if (input == null) return "";
if (input == null) { return ""; }
    protected String format(Object input) {        if (input == null) return "";        FormatterFactory factory = StripesFilter.getConfiguration().getFormatterFactory();        Formatter formatter = factory.getFormatter(input.getClass(),                                                   getPageContext().getRequest().getLocale(),                                                   this.formatType,                                                   this.formatPattern);        if (formatter != null) {            return formatter.format(input);        }        else {            return String.valueOf(input);        }    }