tomcat IE and parse locale Exceptions

I have just done an upgrade for a customer that involved new java, tomcat as well as a new version of our application software.

The webapp was failing with the following Exception:

Caused by: javax.servlet.jsp.JspException: In <parseNumber>, a parse locale can not be established
 at org.apache.taglibs.standard.tag.common.fmt.ParseNumberSupport.doEndTag(ParseNumberSupport.java:134)
 at org.apache.jsp.tag.web.shared.paging_tag._jspx_meth_fmt_005fparseNumber_005f0(paging_tag.java:598)
 at org.apache.jsp.tag.web.shared.paging_tag.doTag(paging_tag.java:241)
 at org.apache.jsp.pages.jsp.type3Footer_jsp._jspx_meth_tag_005fpaging_005f0(type3Footer_jsp.java:220)
 at org.apache.jsp.pages.jsp.type3Footer_jsp._jspService(type3Footer_jsp.java:114)
 ... 73 more

Some googling pointed me to adding locale java options:

• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1153521/setting-default-locale-for-tomcat-service-in-windows-xp
• java -Duser.language=en -Duser.region=GB

This just shifted the problem to Oracle Exceptions complaining about NLS_LANG and suggesting

• that I do a regedit
• http://www.dba-oracle.com/t_ora_12705_error.htm
• That was a step too far

After all the application worked fine before.

So what was my final solution.

Very simple. In IE go to Tools->Internet Options->General/Languages.

• found out there were no languages set
• Add the appropriate one
• English (United Kingdom) [en-gb] in my case.