function DateUtils()
   {
   // no need to do anything here
   }

DateUtils.__MONTH_NAMES =
[
   {
      "full": "January",
      "abbrev": "Jan"
   },
   {
      "full": "February",
      "abbrev": "Feb"
   },
   {
      "full": "March",
      "abbrev": "Mar"
   },
   {
      "full": "April",
      "abbrev": "Apr"
   },
   {
      "full": "May",
      "abbrev": "May"
   },
   {
      "full": "June",
      "abbrev": "Jun"
   },
   {
      "full": "July",
      "abbrev": "Jul"
   },
   {
      "full": "August",
      "abbrev": "Aug"
   },
   {
      "full": "September",
      "abbrev": "Sep"
   },
   {
      "full": "October",
      "abbrev": "Oct"
   },
   {
      "full": "November",
      "abbrev": "Nov"
   },
   {
      "full": "December",
      "abbrev": "Dec"
   }
];

// Converts a String in "yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss" format to a Date.  Returns null if the given string is null or empty. 
DateUtils.parseDate = function(dateString)
   {
   if (dateString)
      {
      var datePattern = /(\d{4})-(\d{2})-(\d{2}) (\d{2}):(\d{2}):(\d{2})/;
      var matchResult = dateString.match(datePattern);
      if (matchResult)
         {
         var year = matchResult[1];
         var month = matchResult[2];
         var day = matchResult[3];
         var hour = matchResult[4];
         var minute = matchResult[5];
         var second = matchResult[6];
         return new Date(year, month - 1, day, hour, minute, second);
         }
      }
   return null;
   };

// Creates a String representation of the given date, including only the month, day, and year.  Returned format is
// "FULL_MONTH_NAME DATE, YEAR".  Returns an empty String if the given string is null.
DateUtils.createSimpleDateString = function(date)
   {
   return DateUtils.createSimpleDateString(date, false);
   };

// Creates a String representation of the given date, including only the month, day, and year.  Returned format is
// either "FULL_MONTH_NAME DATE, YEAR" or "ABBREVIATED_MONTH_NAME DATE, YEAR" depending on the value of the
// useAbbreviatedMonth argument.  Returns an empty String if the given string is null.
DateUtils.createSimpleDateString = function(date, useAbbreviatedMonth)
   {
   if (date)
      {
      var dateType = (useAbbreviatedMonth) ? 'abbrev' : 'full';
      return DateUtils.__MONTH_NAMES[date.getMonth()][dateType] + " " + date.getDate() + ", " + date.getFullYear();
      }
   return "";
   };

// Creates a String representation of the given date, including the month, day, year, and time.  Returned format is
// "FULL_MONTH_NAME DATE, YEAR at hh:mm:ss AM/PM".  Returns an empty String if the given string is null.
DateUtils.createSimpleDateTimeString = function(date)
   {
   return DateUtils.createSimpleDateTimeString(date, false);
   };

// Creates a String representation of the given date, including the month, day, year, and time.  Returned format is
// either "FULL_MONTH_NAME DATE, YEAR at hh:mm:ss AM/PM" or "ABBREVIATED_MONTH_NAME DATE, YEAR at hh:mm:ss AM/PM"
// depending on the value of the useAbbreviatedMonth argument.  Returns an empty String if the given string is null.
DateUtils.createSimpleDateTimeString = function(date, useAbbreviatedMonth)
   {
   if (date)
      {
      var datePart = DateUtils.createSimpleDateString(date, useAbbreviatedMonth);
      var hours = date.getHours();
      var correctedHours = hours;
      var ampm = (hours < 12) ? "AM" : "PM";
      if (hours > 12)
         {
         correctedHours = hours - 12;
         }
      else if (hours == 0)
         {
         correctedHours = 12;
         }
      var minutes = date.getMinutes();
      var paddedMinutes = (minutes < 10) ? "0" + minutes : minutes;
      var seconds = date.getSeconds();
      var paddedSeconds = (seconds < 10) ? "0" + seconds : seconds;
      var timePart = correctedHours + ":" + paddedMinutes + ":" + paddedSeconds + " " + ampm;
      return datePart + " at " + timePart;
      }
   return "";
   };