@ModelAttribute("modelObject") public Invoice setupModel(HttpServletRequest request) { String pk = request.getParameter(getPkParam()); if (pk == null || org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils.isEmpty(pk)) { Invoice invoice = getEntityInstance(); invoice.setInvoiceNumber( new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd").format(Calendar.getInstance().getTime())); return invoice; } else { return genericDAO.getById(getEntityClass(), Long.parseLong(pk)); } }