@Override
  public void setFormat(Format format) {
    if (this.format != format) {
      this.format = format;
      // as bonus, override default Comparator for dates
      // if the instance is not a DateComparator, the user has set
      // its own comparator (perhaps has done it as well and it is
      // a DateComparator, but seems unlikely)
      if ((format != null) && (comparator instanceof DateComparator)
          && Date.class.isAssignableFrom(modelClass)) {
        setComparator(DateComparator.getDateComparator(format));
      }
      else {
        formatOrComparatorUpdated();
      }
    }
  }
@Override
  public void setFormat(Format format)