* @param format the {@link DateFormat}
     * @return the converted {@link Date}
     */
    protected static Date toDate(final String str, final DateFormat format) {
        final ParsePosition pos = new ParsePosition(0);
        final Date date = format.parse(str, pos);
        if (date == null) {
            return null;
        }
        final int index = pos.getIndex();
        if (index == 0) {

     * @param format
     *            {@link DateFormat}
     * @return The converted {@link Date}
     */
    protected static Date toDate(final String str, final DateFormat format) {
        final ParsePosition pos = new ParsePosition(0);
        final Date date = format.parse(str, pos);
        if (date == null) {
            return null;
        }
        final int index = pos.getIndex();
        if (index == 0) {

     * @param format
     *            {@link DateFormat}
     * @return The converted {@link Date}
     */
    protected static Date toDate(final String str, final DateFormat format) {
        final ParsePosition pos = new ParsePosition(0);
        final Date date = format.parse(str, pos);
        if (date == null) {
            return null;
        }
        final int index = pos.getIndex();
        if (index == 0) {