# Email templates: sptools.getClass behaviour **URL:** \ **Category:** SHF Discussion and Questions\ **Tags:** identity-security-cloud\ **Created:** [April 24, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/email-templates-sptools-getclass-behaviour/115129 "2025-04-24T17:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![David\_Norris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@David\_Norris](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/David_Norris)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/email-templates-sptools-getclass-behaviour/115129/1 "2025-04-24T17:51:17Z")
I have the following lines at the top of an email template (testing out a strange behaviour I’m seeing): ```auto #set($sdf = $spTools.getClass().forName("java.text.SimpleDateFormat").getInstance()) $sdf.getClass().getName() #set($tz = $spTools.getClass().forName("java.util.TimeZone").getInstance()) $tz.getClass().getName() #set($cal = $spTools.getClass().forName("java.util.Calendar").getInstance())$cal.getClass().getName() ``` But all that’s running is this ( **three times, identical** ): ```auto java.text.SimpleDateFormat java.text.SimpleDateFormat java.text.SimpleDateFormat ``` Why is this happening? ---
**Author:** ![narayanag](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/narayanag/32/25441_2.png) [@narayanag](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/narayanag)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 7:08am UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/email-templates-sptools-getclass-behaviour/115129/2 "2025-04-25T07:08:54Z")
> [@David\_Norris](#): > > But all that’s running is this ( **three times, identical** ): > > ```auto > > ``` `getInstance()` in Java **does not necessarily return an instance of the base class**. It often returns a subclass. ---
**Author:** ![narayanag](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/narayanag/32/25441_2.png) [@narayanag](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/narayanag)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 7:14am UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/email-templates-sptools-getclass-behaviour/115129/3 "2025-04-25T07:14:09Z")
# What your code does: #set($sdf = $spTools.getClass().forName(“java.text.SimpleDateFormat”).getInstance()) $sdf.getClass().getName() This is trying to create an instance of SimpleDateFormat via Class.forName().getInstance() Then you’re printing out the class name to see what it actually created. #set($tz = $spTools.getClass().forName(“java.util.TimeZone”).getInstance()) $tz.getClass().getName() Same idea for TimeZone. #set($cal = $spTools.getClass().forName(“java.util.Calendar”).getInstance()) $cal.getClass().getName() And again for Calendar. getInstance() in Java does not necessarily return an instance of the base class. It often returns a subclass. For example: java.text.SimpleDateFormat.getInstance() → returns a pre-configured SimpleDateFormat object. java.util.Calendar.getInstance() → returns an instance of GregorianCalendar. java.util.TimeZone.getInstance() → returns the system’s default TimeZone, usually a subclass like sun.util.calendar.ZoneInfo (in Oracle JDK). If you’re testing behavior: $sdf.format($cal.time) $tz.getID() set specific formats/time zones to test behavior changes: #set($sdf = $spTools.getClass().forName(“java.text.SimpleDateFormat”).newInstance()) $sdf.applyPattern(“yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss”) $sdf.format($cal.time) Why the behavior might be strange: getInstance() in Java does not necessarily return an instance of the base class. It often returns a subclass. For example: java.text.SimpleDateFormat.getInstance() → returns a pre-configured SimpleDateFormat object. java.util.Calendar.getInstance() → returns an instance of GregorianCalendar. java.util.TimeZone.getInstance() → returns the system’s default TimeZone, usually a subclass like sun.util.calendar.ZoneInfo (in Oracle JDK). ---
**Author:** ![David\_Norris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@David\_Norris](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/David_Norris)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/email-templates-sptools-getclass-behaviour/115129/4 "2025-04-25T13:15:08Z")
That doesn’t seem to explain why java.text.SimpleDateFormat is returned for all three of them. ---
**Author:** ![gmilunich](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/gmilunich/32/8431_2.png) [@gmilunich](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/gmilunich)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/email-templates-sptools-getclass-behaviour/115129/5 "2025-06-10T18:58:03Z")
Where are you seeing that returned? In the UI for editing the EmailTemplate, or in the actual email that is sent? ---
**Author:** ![gmilunich](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/discuss/user_avatar/developer.sailpoint.com/gmilunich/32/8431_2.png) [@gmilunich](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/gmilunich)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/email-templates-sptools-getclass-behaviour/115129/6 "2025-06-10T19:02:50Z")
I would consider changing it to split the calls. I have used this before and it works. ```auto #set($calClass = $spTools.getClass().forName("java.util.Calendar")) #set($TimeZoneClass = $spTools.getClass().forName("java.util.TimeZone")) #set($NewCalInstance = $calClass.getInstance()) $NewCalInstance.setTime($certification.expiration) ... ``` ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sailpoint/original/2X/f/f2136700ed5e3703e0b85e02f6be799dacca7735.png) [@system](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://developer.sailpoint.com/discuss/t/email-templates-sptools-getclass-behaviour/115129/7 "2025-08-09T19:03:27Z")
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