code: public void setAsText(final String text) {
          if (BeanUtils.isNull(text)) {
              setValue(null);
              return;
          }
          try {
              Object newValue = Short.decode(text);
              setValue(newValue);
          } catch (NumberFormatException e) {
              throw new IllegalArgumentException("Failed to parse short.", e);
          }
      }
docs: Map the argument text into and Short using Short.decode.