@Override
    public void setAsText(String text) throws IllegalArgumentException {
        if (this.allowEmpty && !StringUtils.hasText(text)) {
            // Treat empty String as null value.
            setValue(null);
        } else {
            try {
                if (this.dateFormat != null)
                    setValue(this.dateFormat.parse(text));
                else {
                    setValue(DateUtils.parse(text));
                }
            } catch (ParseException ex) {
                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Could not parse date: " + ex.getMessage(), ex);
            }
        }
    }
Parse the Date from the given text, using the specified DateFormat.
lts-admin/src/main/java/com/github/ltsopensource/admin/web/support/DateEditor.java