ui/src/main/java/thredds/ui/datatype/prefs/DateField.java
@Override
  protected Object getEditValue() {
    try {
      return new DateType(tf.getText(), null, null);
    } catch (java.text.ParseException e) {
      return null;
    }
  }
@Override
  protected Object getEditValue() {
    try {
      return new DateType(tf.getText(), null, null);
    } catch (java.text.ParseException e) {
      return null;
    }
  }
get current value from editComponent