*/
    public static String formatNumber(final long value, final String pattern) {
        final DecimalFormat df = (DecimalFormat) NumberFormat.getNumberInstance(getUserLocale());
        df.applyPattern(pattern);
        return df.format(value);
    }

    /**
     * Retrieves the current user's locale from the request manager.
     *
     * @return the user's locale, or Locale.ROOT if not available