Ruby Datetime Parsing from 'Mm/Dd/Yyyy' Format

I am using ruby 1.9.3 and want to get Date or Time object from 'mm/dd/yyyy' date format string

Time.zone.parse("12/22/2011")

this is giving me *** ArgumentError Exception: argument out of range

4 Answers

require 'Date'
my_date = Date.strptime("12/22/2011", "%m/%d/%Y")
0

As above, use the strptime method, but note the differences below

Date.strptime("12/22/2011", "%m/%d/%Y") => Thu, 22 Dec 2011
DateTime.strptime("12/22/2011", "%m/%d/%Y") => Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000
Time.strptime("12/22/2011", "%m/%d/%Y") => 2011-12-22 00:00:00 +0000 

(the +0000 is the timezone info, and I'm now in GMT - hence +0000. Last week, before the clocks went back, I was in BST +0100. My application.rb contains the line config.time_zone = 'London')

Try Time.strptime("12/22/2011", "%m/%d/%Y")

Would it be an option for you to use Time.strptime("01/28/2012", "%m/%d/%Y") in place of Time.parse? That way you have better control over how Ruby is going to parse the date.

If not there are gems: (e.g. ruby-american_date) to make the Ruby 1.9 Time.parse behave like Ruby 1.8.7, but only use it if it's absolutely necessary.

1.9.3-p0 :002 > Time.parse '01/28/2012'
ArgumentError: argument out of range

1.9.3-p0 :003 > require 'american_date'
1.9.3-p0 :004 > Time.parse '01/28/2012'
 => 2012-01-28 00:00:00 +0000 
1

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James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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