Java APIs

I am getting "Illegal Start of Expression" apparently at the beginning of each "=fomat" line. I admit I know nothing about Java, but I am a programmer so the code I have below seems logical to me...

Please ask any questions, or let me know if you need more code. Help!!! :)

Thank You

Larry

This is the original code that works:

while (rs.next())
{
%>
<TR>
<%
for (int j = 1; j <= columnCount; j++)
{
%>
<TD> <% =format.getFormattedColumn(rs.getString(j), rsMeta.getColumnType(j), rsMeta.getColumnName(j), request.getParameter("optContentType")) ; %> </TD> <%
}
%>
</TR>
<%
}

This is the code after my changes:

String fname = " " ;
while (rs.next())
{
%>
<TR>
<%
for (int j = 1; j <= columnCount; j++)
{
fname = rsMeta.getColumnName(j).toUpperCase() ;
%>
<TD>
<%
if (fname.endsWith("_D"))
=format.getFormattedColumn(rs.getString(j), Types.DATE, rsMeta.getColumnName(j), request.getParameter("optContentType")) ;
else
=format.getFormattedColumn(rs.getString(j), rsMeta.getColumnType(j), rsMeta.getColumnName(j), request.getParameter("optContentType")) ;
%>
</TD>
<%
}
%>
</TR>
<%
}