# How to handle "cannot parse empty date"?
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-handle-cannot-parse-empty-date/245749
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [August 20, 2020, 10:43am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-handle-cannot-parse-empty-date/245749 "2020-08-20T10:43:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rachana\_Pole](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Rachana_Pole)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2020, 10:43am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-handle-cannot-parse-empty-date/245749/1 "2020-08-20T10:43:33Z")
Hi all,
I had a field that provides date information in String format. I converted it to Date type format using mappings as shown in the below mapping sample.
```auto
Ex:
"stats" : {
"properties" : {
"session_oldest_file_time" : {
"format" : "yyyy-MMM-dd HH:mm:ss",
"type" : "date"
}
}
}
```
But after using the mappings, I am getting the below error in elasticsearch logs
```auto
Preview of field's value: ''"}],"type":"mapper_parsing_exception","reason":"failed to parse field [stats.packet_oldest_file_time] of type [date] in document with id 'SBFzC3QBxBCv5W7hhl-gN6'. Preview of field's value: ''","caused_by":{"type":"illegal_argument_exception","reason":"cannot parse empty date"}},"status":400
```
Can anyone suggest how this can be handled?
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2020, 10:43am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-handle-cannot-parse-empty-date/245749/2 "2020-09-17T10:43:43Z")
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