How to create a custom time select form element?

rubyonrails-talk
1

Hello,

I would like to turn a regular 24 hour time select input into a 12 hour time select with an additional AM/PM select input. For example:

Before:

\[00\.\.23\] : \[00\.\.59\]

After:

\[1\.\.12\] : \[00\.\.59\] \[AM,PM\]

I'm really surprised that this sort of thing doesn't come standard in Rails. Has this been done before? Is there a plugin or gem that I can install? If not, how can I create this from scratch?

Thanks, Andrew

2

Why not just write your own html? A lot of this rails stuff is ridiculously complicated for the simple html it produces.

3

I could easily write the HTML to create a few select elements, however, it's the Ruby part that I am not as familiar with. Could you provide an example of what the controller code (or model, helper, etc) would look like to convert the 3 fields into a valid time value ready to store in a database?

4

I highly recommend using jQueryUI Datepicker for more usable date selection. However, if you want to have it your way, create fields in your model for all the select boxes, and use the before_save callback to construct the final date field for storing in the database.

Refer http://guides.rubyonrails.org/form_helpers.html#barebones-helpers

5

Just take the params values and convert them into a Time object. Time.utc or Time.local may be useful.

Colin

6

however, it's the Ruby part that I am not as familiar with.

Then it's time to put rails away and buy a beginning ruby book.

7

The Ruby Programming Language by Matz is my personal favorite. You might want to try that.