Returns a set of select tags (one for year, month, and day) pre-selected for accessing a specified date-based attribute (identified by method) on an object assigned to the template (identified by object). It’s possible to tailor the selects through the options hash, which accepts all the keys that each of the individual select builders do (like :use_month_numbers for select_month) as well as a range of discard options. The discard options are :discard_year, :discard_month and :discard_day. Set to true, they’ll drop the respective select. Discarding the month select will also automatically discard the day select. It’s also possible to explicitly set the order of the tags using the :order option with an array of symbols :year, :month and :day in the desired order. Symbols may be omitted and the respective select is not included.

Pass the :default option to set the default date. Use a Time object or a Hash of :year, :month, :day, :hour, :minute, and :second.

Passing :disabled => true as part of the options will make elements inaccessible for change.

NOTE: Discarded selects will default to 1. So if no month select is available, January will be assumed.

Examples

  # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the post variable, in the written_on attribute
  date_select("post", "written_on")

  # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the post variable, in the written_on attribute,
  # with the year in the year drop down box starting at 1995.
  date_select("post", "written_on", :start_year => 1995)

  # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the post variable, in the written_on attribute,
  # with the year in the year drop down box starting at 1995, numbers used for months instead of words,
  # and without a day select box.
  date_select("post", "written_on", :start_year => 1995, :use_month_numbers => true,
                                    :discard_day => true, :include_blank => true)

  # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the post variable, in the written_on attribute
  # with the fields ordered as day, month, year rather than month, day, year.
  date_select("post", "written_on", :order => [:day, :month, :year])

  # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the user variable, in the birthday attribute
  # lacking a year field.
  date_select("user", "birthday", :order => [:month, :day])

  # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the user variable, in the birthday attribute
  # which is initially set to the date 3 days from the current date
  date_select("post", "written_on", :default => 3.days.from_now)

  # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the credit_card variable, in the bill_due attribute
  # that will have a default day of 20.
  date_select("credit_card", "bill_due", :default => { :day => 20 })

The selects are prepared for multi-parameter assignment to an Active Record object.

Note: If the day is not included as an option but the month is, the day will be set to the 1st to ensure that all month choices are valid.

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 152
      def date_select(object_name, method, options = {})
        InstanceTag.new(object_name, method, self, nil, options.delete(:object)).to_date_select_tag(options)
      end

Returns a set of select tags (one for year, month, day, hour, and minute) pre-selected for accessing a specified datetime-based attribute (identified by method) on an object assigned to the template (identified by object). Examples:

Examples

  # Generates a datetime select that, when POSTed, will be stored in the post variable in the written_on attribute
  datetime_select("post", "written_on")

  # Generates a datetime select with a year select that starts at 1995 that, when POSTed, will be stored in the
  # post variable in the written_on attribute.
  datetime_select("post", "written_on", :start_year => 1995)

  # Generates a datetime select with a default value of 3 days from the current time that, when POSTed, will be stored in the
  # trip variable in the departing attribute.
  datetime_select("trip", "departing", :default => 3.days.from_now)

  # Generates a datetime select that discards the type that, when POSTed, will be stored in the post variable as the written_on
  # attribute.
  datetime_select("post", "written_on", :discard_type => true)

The selects are prepared for multi-parameter assignment to an Active Record object.

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 206
      def datetime_select(object_name, method, options = {})
        InstanceTag.new(object_name, method, self, nil, options.delete(:object)).to_datetime_select_tag(options)
      end

Reports the approximate distance in time between two Time or Date objects or integers as seconds. Set include_seconds to true if you want more detailed approximations when distance < 1 min, 29 secs Distances are reported base on the following table:

0 <-> 29 secs # => less than a minute 30 secs <-> 1 min, 29 secs # => 1 minute 1 min, 30 secs <-> 44 mins, 29 secs # => [2..44] minutes 44 mins, 30 secs <-> 89 mins, 29 secs # => about 1 hour 89 mins, 29 secs <-> 23 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs # => about [2..24] hours 23 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs <-> 47 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs # => 1 day 47 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs <-> 29 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs # => [2..29] days 29 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 30 secs <-> 59 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs # => about 1 month 59 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 30 secs <-> 1 yr minus 31 secs # => [2..12] months 1 yr minus 30 secs <-> 2 yrs minus 31 secs # => about 1 year 2 yrs minus 30 secs <-> max time or date # => over [2..X] years

With include_seconds = true and the difference < 1 minute 29 seconds 0-4 secs # => less than 5 seconds 5-9 secs # => less than 10 seconds 10-19 secs # => less than 20 seconds 20-39 secs # => half a minute 40-59 secs # => less than a minute 60-89 secs # => 1 minute

Examples

  from_time = Time.now
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 50.minutes)        # => about 1 hour
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, 50.minutes.from_now)           # => about 1 hour
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 15.seconds)        # => less than a minute
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 15.seconds, true)  # => less than 20 seconds
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, 3.years.from_now)              # => over 3 years
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 60.hours)          # => about 3 days
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 45.seconds, true)  # => less than a minute
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time - 45.seconds, true)  # => less than a minute
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, 76.seconds.from_now)           # => 1 minute
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 1.year + 3.days)   # => about 1 years
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 4.years + 15.days + 30.minutes + 5.seconds) # => over 4 years

  to_time = Time.now + 6.years + 19.days
  distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, to_time, true)     # => over 6 years
  distance_of_time_in_words(to_time, from_time, true)     # => over 6 years
  distance_of_time_in_words(Time.now, Time.now)           # => less than a minute

Note: Rails calculates one year as 365.25 days.

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 60
      def distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, to_time = 0, include_seconds = false)
        from_time = from_time.to_time if from_time.respond_to?(:to_time)
        to_time = to_time.to_time if to_time.respond_to?(:to_time)
        distance_in_minutes = (((to_time - from_time).abs)/60).round
        distance_in_seconds = ((to_time - from_time).abs).round

        case distance_in_minutes
          when 0..1
            return (distance_in_minutes == 0) ? 'less than a minute' : '1 minute' unless include_seconds
            case distance_in_seconds
              when 0..4   then 'less than 5 seconds'
              when 5..9   then 'less than 10 seconds'
              when 10..19 then 'less than 20 seconds'
              when 20..39 then 'half a minute'
              when 40..59 then 'less than a minute'
              else             '1 minute'
            end

          when 2..44           then "#{distance_in_minutes} minutes"
          when 45..89          then 'about 1 hour'
          when 90..1439        then "about #{(distance_in_minutes.to_f / 60.0).round} hours"
          when 1440..2879      then '1 day'
          when 2880..43199     then "#{(distance_in_minutes / 1440).round} days"
          when 43200..86399    then 'about 1 month'
          when 86400..525599   then "#{(distance_in_minutes / 43200).round} months"
          when 525600..1051199 then 'about 1 year'
          else                      "over #{(distance_in_minutes / 525600).round} years"
        end
      end

Alias for time_ago_in_words

Returns a set of html select-tags (one for year, month, and day) pre-selected with the date. It’s possible to explicitly set the order of the tags using the :order option with an array of symbols :year, :month and :day in the desired order. If you do not supply a Symbol, it will be appened onto the :order passed in.

Examples

  my_date = Time.today + 6.days

  # Generates a date select that defaults to the date in my_date (six days after today)
  select_date(my_date)

  # Generates a date select that defaults to today (no specified date)
  select_date()

  # Generates a date select that defaults to the date in my_date (six days after today)
  # with the fields ordered year, month, day rather then month, day, year.
  select_date(my_date, :order => [:year, :month, :day])

  # Generates a date select that discards the type of the field and defaults to the date in
  # my_date (six days after today)
  select_datetime(my_date_time, :discard_type => true)

  # Generates a date select that defaults to the datetime in my_date (six days after today)
  # prefixed with 'payday' rather than 'date'
  select_datetime(my_date_time, :prefix => 'payday')

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 272
      def select_date(date = Date.today, options = {})
        options[:order] ||= []
        [:year, :month, :day].each { |o| options[:order].push(o) unless options[:order].include?(o) }

        select_date = ''
        options[:order].each do |o|
          select_date << self.send("select_#{o}", date, options)
        end
        select_date
      end

Returns a set of html select-tags (one for year, month, day, hour, and minute) pre-selected with the datetime. It’s also possible to explicitly set the order of the tags using the :order option with an array of symbols :year, :month and :day in the desired order. If you do not supply a Symbol, it will be appened onto the :order passed in. You can also add :date_separator and :time_separator keys to the options to control visual display of the elements.

Examples

  my_date_time = Time.now + 4.days

  # Generates a datetime select that defaults to the datetime in my_date_time (four days after today)
  select_datetime(my_date_time)

  # Generates a datetime select that defaults to today (no specified datetime)
  select_datetime()

  # Generates a datetime select that defaults to the datetime in my_date_time (four days after today)
  # with the fields ordered year, month, day rather then month, day, year.
  select_datetime(my_date_time, :order => [:year, :month, :day])

  # Generates a datetime select that defaults to the datetime in my_date_time (four days after today)
  # with a '/' between each date field.
  select_datetime(my_date_time, :date_separator => '/')

  # Generates a datetime select that discards the type of the field and defaults to the datetime in
  # my_date_time (four days after today)
  select_datetime(my_date_time, :discard_type => true)

  # Generates a datetime select that defaults to the datetime in my_date_time (four days after today)
  # prefixed with 'payday' rather than 'date'
  select_datetime(my_date_time, :prefix => 'payday')

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 241
      def select_datetime(datetime = Time.now, options = {})
        separator = options[:datetime_separator] || ''
        select_date(datetime, options) + separator + select_time(datetime, options)
       end

Returns a select tag with options for each of the days 1 through 31 with the current day selected. The date can also be substituted for a hour number. Override the field name using the :field_name option, ‘day’ by default.

Examples

  my_date = Time.today + 2.days

  # Generates a select field for days that defaults to the day for the date in my_date
  select_day(my_time)

  # Generates a select field for days that defaults to the number given
  select_day(5)

  # Generates a select field for days that defaults to the day for the date in my_date
  # that is named 'due' rather than 'day'
  select_day(my_time, :field_name => 'due')

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 430
      def select_day(date, options = {})
        val = date ? (date.kind_of?(Fixnum) ? date : date.day) : ''
        if options[:use_hidden]
          hidden_html(options[:field_name] || 'day', val, options)
        else
          day_options = []
          1.upto(31) do |day|
            day_options << ((val == day) ?
              %(<option value="#{day}" selected="selected">#{day}</option>\n) :
              %(<option value="#{day}">#{day}</option>\n)
            )
          end
          select_html(options[:field_name] || 'day', day_options, options)
        end
      end

Returns a select tag with options for each of the hours 0 through 23 with the current hour selected. The hour can also be substituted for a hour number. Override the field name using the :field_name option, ‘hour’ by default.

Examples

  my_time = Time.now + 6.hours

  # Generates a select field for minutes that defaults to the minutes for the time in my_time
  select_minute(my_time)

  # Generates a select field for minutes that defaults to the number given
  select_minute(14)

  # Generates a select field for minutes that defaults to the minutes for the time in my_time
  # that is named 'stride' rather than 'second'
  select_minute(my_time, :field_name => 'stride')

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 397
      def select_hour(datetime, options = {})
        val = datetime ? (datetime.kind_of?(Fixnum) ? datetime : datetime.hour) : ''
        if options[:use_hidden]
          hidden_html(options[:field_name] || 'hour', val, options)
        else
          hour_options = []
          0.upto(23) do |hour|
            hour_options << ((val == hour) ?
              %(<option value="#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(hour)}" selected="selected">#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(hour)}</option>\n) :
              %(<option value="#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(hour)}">#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(hour)}</option>\n)
            )
          end
          select_html(options[:field_name] || 'hour', hour_options, options)
        end
      end

Returns a select tag with options for each of the minutes 0 through 59 with the current minute selected. Also can return a select tag with options by minute_step from 0 through 59 with the 00 minute selected The minute can also be substituted for a minute number. Override the field name using the :field_name option, ‘minute’ by default.

Examples

  my_time = Time.now + 6.hours

  # Generates a select field for minutes that defaults to the minutes for the time in my_time
  select_minute(my_time)

  # Generates a select field for minutes that defaults to the number given
  select_minute(14)

  # Generates a select field for minutes that defaults to the minutes for the time in my_time
  # that is named 'stride' rather than 'second'
  select_minute(my_time, :field_name => 'stride')

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 364
      def select_minute(datetime, options = {})
        val = datetime ? (datetime.kind_of?(Fixnum) ? datetime : datetime.min) : ''
        if options[:use_hidden]
          hidden_html(options[:field_name] || 'minute', val, options)
        else
          minute_options = []
          0.step(59, options[:minute_step] || 1) do |minute|
            minute_options << ((val == minute) ?
              %(<option value="#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(minute)}" selected="selected">#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(minute)}</option>\n) :
              %(<option value="#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(minute)}">#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(minute)}</option>\n)
            )
          end
          select_html(options[:field_name] || 'minute', minute_options, options)
         end
      end

Returns a select tag with options for each of the months January through December with the current month selected. The month names are presented as keys (what’s shown to the user) and the month numbers (1-12) are used as values (what’s submitted to the server). It’s also possible to use month numbers for the presentation instead of names — set the :use_month_numbers key in options to true for this to happen. If you want both numbers and names, set the :add_month_numbers key in options to true. If you would prefer to show month names as abbreviations, set the :use_short_month key in options to true. If you want to use your own month names, set the :use_month_names key in options to an array of 12 month names. Override the field name using the :field_name option, ‘month’ by default.

Examples

  # Generates a select field for months that defaults to the current month that
  # will use keys like "January", "March".
  select_month(Date.today)

  # Generates a select field for months that defaults to the current month that
  # is named "start" rather than "month"
  select_month(Date.today, :field_name => 'start')

  # Generates a select field for months that defaults to the current month that
  # will use keys like "1", "3".
  select_month(Date.today, :use_month_numbers => true)

  # Generates a select field for months that defaults to the current month that
  # will use keys like "1 - January", "3 - March".
  select_month(Date.today, :add_month_numbers => true)

  # Generates a select field for months that defaults to the current month that
  # will use keys like "Jan", "Mar".
  select_month(Date.today, :use_short_month => true)

  # Generates a select field for months that defaults to the current month that
  # will use keys like "Januar", "Marts."
  select_month(Date.today, :use_month_names => %w(Januar Februar Marts ...))

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 480
      def select_month(date, options = {})
        val = date ? (date.kind_of?(Fixnum) ? date : date.month) : ''
        if options[:use_hidden]
          hidden_html(options[:field_name] || 'month', val, options)
        else
          month_options = []
          month_names = options[:use_month_names] || (options[:use_short_month] ? Date::ABBR_MONTHNAMES : Date::MONTHNAMES)
          month_names.unshift(nil) if month_names.size < 13
          1.upto(12) do |month_number|
            month_name = if options[:use_month_numbers]
              month_number
            elsif options[:add_month_numbers]
              month_number.to_s + ' - ' + month_names[month_number]
            else
              month_names[month_number]
            end

            month_options << ((val == month_number) ?
              %(<option value="#{month_number}" selected="selected">#{month_name}</option>\n) :
              %(<option value="#{month_number}">#{month_name}</option>\n)
            )
          end
          select_html(options[:field_name] || 'month', month_options, options)
        end
      end

Returns a select tag with options for each of the seconds 0 through 59 with the current second selected. The second can also be substituted for a second number. Override the field name using the :field_name option, ‘second’ by default.

Examples

  my_time = Time.now + 16.minutes

  # Generates a select field for seconds that defaults to the seconds for the time in my_time
  select_second(my_time)

  # Generates a select field for seconds that defaults to the number given
  select_second(33)

  # Generates a select field for seconds that defaults to the seconds for the time in my_time
  # that is named 'interval' rather than 'second'
  select_second(my_time, :field_name => 'interval')

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 330
      def select_second(datetime, options = {})
        val = datetime ? (datetime.kind_of?(Fixnum) ? datetime : datetime.sec) : ''
        if options[:use_hidden]
          options[:include_seconds] ? hidden_html(options[:field_name] || 'second', val, options) : ''
        else
          second_options = []
          0.upto(59) do |second|
            second_options << ((val == second) ?
              %(<option value="#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(second)}" selected="selected">#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(second)}</option>\n) :
              %(<option value="#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(second)}">#{leading_zero_on_single_digits(second)}</option>\n)
            )
          end
          select_html(options[:field_name] || 'second', second_options, options)
        end
      end

Returns a set of html select-tags (one for hour and minute) You can set :time_separator key to format the output, and the :include_seconds option to include an input for seconds.

Examples

  my_time = Time.now + 5.days + 7.hours + 3.minutes + 14.seconds

  # Generates a time select that defaults to the time in my_time
  select_time(my_time)

  # Generates a time select that defaults to the current time (no specified time)
  select_time()

  # Generates a time select that defaults to the time in my_time,
  # which has fields separated by ':'
  select_time(my_time, :time_separator => ':')

  # Generates a time select that defaults to the time in my_time,
  # that also includes an input for seconds
  select_time(my_time, :include_seconds => true)

  # Generates a time select that defaults to the time in my_time, that has fields
  # separated by ':' and includes an input for seconds
  select_time(my_time, :time_separator => ':', :include_seconds => true)

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 308
      def select_time(datetime = Time.now, options = {})
        separator = options[:time_separator] || ''
        select_hour(datetime, options) + separator + select_minute(datetime, options) + (options[:include_seconds] ? separator + select_second(datetime, options) : '')
      end

Returns a select tag with options for each of the five years on each side of the current, which is selected. The five year radius can be changed using the :start_year and :end_year keys in the options. Both ascending and descending year lists are supported by making :start_year less than or greater than :end_year. The date can also be substituted for a year given as a number. Override the field name using the :field_name option, ‘year’ by default.

Examples

  # Generates a select field for years that defaults to the current year that
  # has ascending year values
  select_year(Date.today, :start_year => 1992, :end_year => 2007)

  # Generates a select field for years that defaults to the current year that
  # is named 'birth' rather than 'year'
  select_year(Date.today, :field_name => 'birth')

  # Generates a select field for years that defaults to the current year that
  # has descending year values
  select_year(Date.today, :start_year => 2005, :end_year => 1900)

  # Generates a select field for years that defaults to the year 2006 that
  # has ascending year values
  select_year(2006, :start_year => 2000, :end_year => 2010)

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 528
      def select_year(date, options = {})
        val = date ? (date.kind_of?(Fixnum) ? date : date.year) : ''
        if options[:use_hidden]
          hidden_html(options[:field_name] || 'year', val, options)
        else
          year_options = []
          y = date ? (date.kind_of?(Fixnum) ? (y = (date == 0) ? Date.today.year : date) : date.year) : Date.today.year

          start_year, end_year = (options[:start_year] || y-5), (options[:end_year] || y+5)
          step_val = start_year < end_year ? 1 : -1
          start_year.step(end_year, step_val) do |year|
            year_options << ((val == year) ?
              %(<option value="#{year}" selected="selected">#{year}</option>\n) :
              %(<option value="#{year}">#{year}</option>\n)
            )
          end
          select_html(options[:field_name] || 'year', year_options, options)
        end
      end

Like distance_of_time_in_words, but where to_time is fixed to Time.now.

Examples

  time_ago_in_words(3.minutes.from_now)       # => 3 minutes
  time_ago_in_words(Time.now - 15.hours)      # => 15 hours
  time_ago_in_words(Time.now)                 # => less than a minute

  from_time = Time.now - 3.days - 14.minutes - 25.seconds     # => 3 days

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 98
      def time_ago_in_words(from_time, include_seconds = false)
        distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, Time.now, include_seconds)
      end

Returns a set of select tags (one for hour, minute and optionally second) pre-selected for accessing a specified time-based attribute (identified by method) on an object assigned to the template (identified by object). You can include the seconds with :include_seconds.

Examples

  # Creates a time select tag that, when POSTed, will be stored in the post variable in the sunrise attribute
  time_select("post", "sunrise")

  # Creates a time select tag that, when POSTed, will be stored in the order variable in the submitted attribute
  time_select("order", "submitted")

  # Creates a time select tag that, when POSTed, will be stored in the mail variable in the sent_at attribute
  time_select("mail", "sent_at")

  # Creates a time select tag with a seconds field that, when POSTed, will be stored in the post variables in
  # the sunrise attribute.
  time_select("post", "start_time", :include_seconds => true)

  # Creates a time select tag with a seconds field that, when POSTed, will be stored in the entry variables in
  # the submission_time attribute.
  time_select("entry", "submission_time", :include_seconds => true)

The selects are prepared for multi-parameter assignment to an Active Record object.

Note: If the day is not included as an option but the month is, the day will be set to the 1st to ensure that all month choices are valid.

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 182
      def time_select(object_name, method, options = {})
        InstanceTag.new(object_name, method, self, nil, options.delete(:object)).to_time_select_tag(options)
      end

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 560
        def hidden_html(type, value, options)
          name_and_id_from_options(options, type)
          hidden_html = %(<input type="hidden" id="#{options[:id]}" name="#{options[:name]}" value="#{value}" />\n)
        end

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 570
        def leading_zero_on_single_digits(number)
          number > 9 ? number : "0#{number}"
        end

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 565
        def name_and_id_from_options(options, type)
          options[:name] = (options[:prefix] || DEFAULT_PREFIX) + (options[:discard_type] ? '' : "[#{type}]")
          options[:id] = options[:name].gsub(/([\[\(])|(\]\[)/, '_').gsub(/[\]\)]/, '')
        end

[Source]

# File actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 550
        def select_html(type, html_options, options)
          name_and_id_from_options(options, type)
          select_html  = %(<select id="#{options[:id]}" name="#{options[:name]}")
          select_html << %( disabled="disabled") if options[:disabled]
          select_html << %(>\n)
          select_html << %(<option value=""></option>\n) if options[:include_blank]
          select_html << html_options.to_s
          select_html << "</select>\n"
        end