module ActionView::Helpers::DateHelper - actionview-4.2.3 Documentation

# module ActionView::Helpers::DateHelper

# Action View Date Helpers¶ ↑

The Date Helper primarily creates select/option tags for different kinds of dates and times or date and time elements. All of the select-type methods share a number of common options that are as follows:

- `:prefix` - overwrites the default prefix of “date” used for the select names. So specifying “birthday” would give birthday[month] instead of date[month] if passed to the `select_month` method.

- `:include_blank` - set to true if it should be possible to set an empty date.

- `:discard_type` - set to true if you want to discard the type part of the select name. If set to true, the `select_month` method would use simply “date” (which can be overwritten using `:prefix`) instead of date[month].

### Constants

MINUTES_IN_QUARTER_YEAR
MINUTES_IN_THREE_QUARTERS_YEAR
MINUTES_IN_YEAR

### Public Instance Methods

date_select(object_name, method, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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`).

#### Options¶ ↑

- `:use_month_numbers` - Set to true if you want to use month numbers rather than month names (e.g. “2” instead of “February”).

- `:use_two_digit_numbers` - Set to true if you want to display two digit month and day numbers (e.g. “02” instead of “February” and “08” instead of “8”).

- `:use_short_month` - Set to true if you want to use abbreviated month names instead of full month names (e.g. “Feb” instead of “February”).

- `:add_month_numbers` - Set to true if you want to use both month numbers and month names (e.g. “2 - February” instead of “February”).

- `:use_month_names` - Set to an array with 12 month names if you want to customize month names. Note: You can also use Rails' i18n functionality for this.

- `:month_format_string` - Set to a format string. The string gets passed keys `:number` (integer) and `:name` (string). A format string would be something like “%{name} (%<number>02d)” for example. See `Kernel.sprintf` for documentation on format sequences.

- `:date_separator` - Specifies a string to separate the date fields. Default is “” (i.e. nothing).

- `:start_year` - Set the start year for the year select. Default is `Date.today.year - 5` if you are creating new record. While editing existing record, `:start_year` defaults to the current selected year minus 5.

- `:end_year` - Set the end year for the year select. Default is `Date.today.year + 5` if you are creating new record. While editing existing record, `:end_year` defaults to the current selected year plus 5.

- `:discard_day` - Set to true if you don't want to show a day select. This includes the day as a hidden field instead of showing a select field. Also note that this implicitly sets the day to be the first of the given month in order to not create invalid dates like 31 February.

- `:discard_month` - Set to true if you don't want to show a month select. This includes the month as a hidden field instead of showing a select field. Also note that this implicitly sets :discard_day to true.

- `:discard_year` - Set to true if you don't want to show a year select. This includes the year as a hidden field instead of showing a select field.

- `:order` - Set to an array containing `:day`, `:month` and `:year` to customize the order in which the select fields are shown. If you leave out any of the symbols, the respective select will not be shown (like when you set `discard_xxx: true`. Defaults to the order defined in the respective locale (e.g. [:year, :month, :day] in the en locale that ships with Rails).

- `:include_blank` - Include a blank option in every select field so it's possible to set empty dates.

- `:default` - Set a default date if the affected date isn't set or is nil.

- `:selected` - Set a date that overrides the actual value.

- `:disabled` - Set to true if you want show the select fields as disabled.

- `:prompt` - Set to true (for a generic prompt), a prompt string or a hash of prompt strings for `:year`, `:month`, `:day`, `:hour`, `:minute` and `:second`. Setting this option prepends a select option with a generic prompt (Day, Month, Year, Hour, Minute, Seconds) or the given prompt string.

- `:with_css_classes` - Set to true if you want assign different styles for 'select' tags. This option automatically set classes 'year', 'month', 'day', 'hour', 'minute' and 'second' for your 'select' tags.

If anything is passed in the `html_options` hash it will be applied to every select tag in the set.

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

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

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

    # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the article 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("article", "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 article variable, in the written_on attribute,
    # with two digit numbers used for months and days.
    date_select("article", "written_on", use_two_digit_numbers: true)

    # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the article variable, in the written_on attribute
    # with the fields ordered as day, month, year rather than month, day, year.
    date_select("article", "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 article variable, in the written_on attribute
    # which is initially set to the date 3 days from the current date
    date_select("article", "written_on", default: 3.days.from_now)

    # Generates a date select that when POSTed is stored in the article variable, in the written_on attribute
    # which is set in the form with todays date, regardless of the value in the Active Record object.
    date_select("article", "written_on", selected: Date.today)

    # 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 })

    # Generates a date select with custom prompts.
    date_select("article", "written_on", prompt: { day: 'Select day', month: 'Select month', year: 'Select year' })

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.

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 257
    def date_select(object_name, method, options = {}, html_options = {})
      Tags::DateSelect.new(object_name, method, self, options, html_options).render
    end

datetime_select(object_name, method, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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`).

If anything is passed in the html_options hash it will be applied to every select tag in the set.

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

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

    # Generate a datetime select with hours in the AM/PM format
    datetime_select("article", "written_on", ampm: true)

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

    # Generates a datetime select with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for generic prompts.
    datetime_select("article", "written_on", prompt: {day: 'Choose day', month: 'Choose month', year: 'Choose year'})
    datetime_select("article", "written_on", prompt: {hour: true}) # generic prompt for hours
    datetime_select("article", "written_on", prompt: true) # generic prompts for all

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

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 329
    def datetime_select(object_name, method, options = {}, html_options = {})
      Tags::DatetimeSelect.new(object_name, method, self, options, html_options).render
    end

distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, to_time = 0, options = {}) click to toggle source

Reports the approximate distance in time between two Time, Date or DateTime objects or integers as seconds. Pass `include_seconds: true` if you want more detailed approximations when distance < 1 min, 29 secs. Distances are reported based 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, 30 secs <-> 23 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs                             # => about [2..24] hours
    23 hrs, 59 mins, 30 secs <-> 41 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs                     # => 1 day
    41 hrs, 59 mins, 30 secs  <-> 29 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs           # => [2..29] days
    29 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 30 secs <-> 44 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs   # => about 1 month
    44 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 30 secs <-> 59 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 29 secs   # => about 2 months
    59 days, 23 hrs, 59 mins, 30 secs <-> 1 yr minus 1 sec                    # => [2..12] months
    1 yr <-> 1 yr, 3 months                                                   # => about 1 year
    1 yr, 3 months <-> 1 yr, 9 months                                         # => over 1 year
    1 yr, 9 months <-> 2 yr minus 1 sec                                       # => almost 2 years
    2 yrs <-> max time or date                                                # => (same rules as 1 yr)

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

    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, include_seconds: true)         # => less than 20 seconds
    distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, 3.years.from_now)                                      # => about 3 years
    distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 60.hours)                                  # => 3 days
    distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 45.seconds, include_seconds: true)         # => less than a minute
    distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time - 45.seconds, include_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 year
    distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 3.years + 6.months)                        # => over 3 years
    distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, from_time + 4.years + 9.days + 30.minutes + 5.seconds) # => about 4 years

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

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 71
    def distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, to_time = 0, options = {})
      options = {
        scope: :'datetime.distance_in_words'
      }.merge!(options)

      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)
      from_time, to_time = to_time, from_time if from_time > to_time
      distance_in_minutes = ((to_time - from_time)/60.0).round
      distance_in_seconds = (to_time - from_time).round

      I18n.with_options :locale => options[:locale], :scope => options[:scope] do |locale|
        case distance_in_minutes
          when 0..1
            return distance_in_minutes == 0 ?
                   locale.t(:less_than_x_minutes, :count => 1) :
                   locale.t(:x_minutes, :count => distance_in_minutes) unless options[:include_seconds]

            case distance_in_seconds
              when 0..4   then locale.t :less_than_x_seconds, :count => 5
              when 5..9   then locale.t :less_than_x_seconds, :count => 10
              when 10..19 then locale.t :less_than_x_seconds, :count => 20
              when 20..39 then locale.t :half_a_minute
              when 40..59 then locale.t :less_than_x_minutes, :count => 1
              else             locale.t :x_minutes,           :count => 1
            end

          when 2...45           then locale.t :x_minutes,      :count => distance_in_minutes
          when 45...90          then locale.t :about_x_hours,  :count => 1
          # 90 mins up to 24 hours
          when 90...1440        then locale.t :about_x_hours,  :count => (distance_in_minutes.to_f / 60.0).round
          # 24 hours up to 42 hours
          when 1440...2520      then locale.t :x_days,         :count => 1
          # 42 hours up to 30 days
          when 2520...43200     then locale.t :x_days,         :count => (distance_in_minutes.to_f / 1440.0).round
          # 30 days up to 60 days
          when 43200...86400    then locale.t :about_x_months, :count => (distance_in_minutes.to_f / 43200.0).round
          # 60 days up to 365 days
          when 86400...525600   then locale.t :x_months,       :count => (distance_in_minutes.to_f / 43200.0).round
          else
            if from_time.acts_like?(:time) && to_time.acts_like?(:time)
              fyear = from_time.year
              fyear += 1 if from_time.month >= 3
              tyear = to_time.year
              tyear -= 1 if to_time.month < 3
              leap_years = (fyear > tyear) ? 0 : (fyear..tyear).count{|x| Date.leap?(x)}
              minute_offset_for_leap_year = leap_years * 1440
              # Discount the leap year days when calculating year distance.
              # e.g. if there are 20 leap year days between 2 dates having the same day
              # and month then the based on 365 days calculation
              # the distance in years will come out to over 80 years when in written
              # English it would read better as about 80 years.
              minutes_with_offset = distance_in_minutes - minute_offset_for_leap_year
            else
              minutes_with_offset = distance_in_minutes
            end
            remainder                   = (minutes_with_offset % MINUTES_IN_YEAR)
            distance_in_years           = (minutes_with_offset.div MINUTES_IN_YEAR)
            if remainder < MINUTES_IN_QUARTER_YEAR
              locale.t(:about_x_years,  :count => distance_in_years)
            elsif remainder < MINUTES_IN_THREE_QUARTERS_YEAR
              locale.t(:over_x_years,   :count => distance_in_years)
            else
              locale.t(:almost_x_years, :count => distance_in_years + 1)
            end
        end
      end
    end

distance_of_time_in_words_to_now(from_time, options = {})
Alias for: time_ago_in_words
select_date(date = Date.current, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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 the array passed to the `:order` option does not contain all the three symbols, all tags will be hidden.

If anything is passed in the html_options hash it will be applied to every select tag in the set.

    my_date = Time.now + 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 than 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_date(my_date, discard_type: true)

    # Generates a date select that defaults to the date in my_date,
    # which has fields separated by '/'.
    select_date(my_date, date_separator: '/')

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

    # Generates a date select with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for generic prompts.
    select_date(my_date, prompt: {day: 'Choose day', month: 'Choose month', year: 'Choose year'})
    select_date(my_date, prompt: {hour: true}) # generic prompt for hours
    select_date(my_date, prompt: true) # generic prompts for all

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 417
    def select_date(date = Date.current, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(date, options, html_options).select_date
    end

select_datetime(datetime = Time.current, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

Returns a set of HTML select-tags (one for year, month, day, hour, minute, and second) 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 appended onto the `:order` passed in. You can also add `:date_separator`, `:datetime_separator` and `:time_separator` keys to the `options` to control visual display of the elements.

If anything is passed in the html_options hash it will be applied to every select tag in the set.

    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 than 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 defaults to the datetime in my_date_time (four days after today)
    # with a date fields separated by '/', time fields separated by '' and the date and time fields
    # separated by a comma (',').
    select_datetime(my_date_time, date_separator: '/', time_separator: '', datetime_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)

    # Generate a datetime field with hours in the AM/PM format
    select_datetime(my_date_time, ampm: 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')

    # Generates a datetime select with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for generic prompts.
    select_datetime(my_date_time, prompt: {day: 'Choose day', month: 'Choose month', year: 'Choose year'})
    select_datetime(my_date_time, prompt: {hour: true}) # generic prompt for hours
    select_datetime(my_date_time, prompt: true) # generic prompts for all

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 378
    def select_datetime(datetime = Time.current, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(datetime, options, html_options).select_datetime
    end

select_day(date, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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 day number. If you want to display days with a leading zero set the `:use_two_digit_numbers` key in `options` to true. Override the field name using the `:field_name` option, 'day' by default.

    my_date = Time.now + 2.days

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

    # 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 number given, but displays it with two digits.
    select_day(5, use_two_digit_numbers: true)

    # 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_date, field_name: 'due')

    # Generates a select field for days with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for a
    # generic prompt.
    select_day(5, prompt: 'Choose day')

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 560
    def select_day(date, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(date, options, html_options).select_day
    end

select_hour(datetime, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

Returns a select tag with options for each of the hours 0 through 23 with the current hour selected. The `datetime` can be either a `Time` or `DateTime` object or an integer. Override the field name using the `:field_name` option, 'hour' by default.

    my_time = Time.now + 6.hours

    # Generates a select field for hours that defaults to the hour for the time in my_time.
    select_hour(my_time)

    # Generates a select field for hours that defaults to the number given.
    select_hour(13)

    # Generates a select field for hours that defaults to the hour for the time in my_time
    # that is named 'stride' rather than 'hour'.
    select_hour(my_time, field_name: 'stride')

    # Generates a select field for hours with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for a
    # generic prompt.
    select_hour(13, prompt: 'Choose hour')

    # Generate a select field for hours in the AM/PM format
    select_hour(my_time, ampm: true)

    # Generates a select field that includes options for hours from 2 to 14.
    select_hour(my_time, start_hour: 2, end_hour: 14)

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 533
    def select_hour(datetime, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(datetime, options, html_options).select_hour
    end

select_minute(datetime, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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 `datetime` can be either a `Time` or `DateTime` object or an integer. Override the field name using the `:field_name` option, 'minute' by default.

    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 'moment' rather than 'minute'.
    select_minute(my_time, field_name: 'moment')

    # Generates a select field for minutes with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for a
    # generic prompt.
    select_minute(14, prompt: 'Choose minutes')

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 504
    def select_minute(datetime, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(datetime, options, html_options).select_minute
    end

select_month(date, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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. If you want to display months with a leading zero set the `:use_two_digit_numbers` key in `options` to true. Override the field name using the `:field_name` option, 'month' by default.

    # 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 ...))

    # Generates a select field for months that defaults to the current month that
    # will use keys with two digit numbers like "01", "03".
    select_month(Date.today, use_two_digit_numbers: true)

    # Generates a select field for months with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for a
    # generic prompt.
    select_month(14, prompt: 'Choose month')

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 605
    def select_month(date, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(date, options, html_options).select_month
    end

select_second(datetime, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

Returns a select tag with options for each of the seconds 0 through 59 with the current second selected. The `datetime` can be either a `Time` or `DateTime` object or an integer. Override the field name using the `:field_name` option, 'second' by default.

    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')

    # Generates a select field for seconds with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for a
    # generic prompt.
    select_second(14, prompt: 'Choose seconds')

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 480
    def select_second(datetime, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(datetime, options, html_options).select_second
    end

select_time(datetime = Time.current, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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.

If anything is passed in the html_options hash it will be applied to every select tag in the set.

    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)

    # Generate a time select field with hours in the AM/PM format
    select_time(my_time, ampm: true)

    # Generates a time select field with hours that range from 2 to 14
    select_time(my_time, start_hour: 2, end_hour: 14)

    # Generates a time select with a custom prompt. Use <tt>:prompt</tt> to true for generic prompts.
    select_time(my_time, prompt: {day: 'Choose day', month: 'Choose month', year: 'Choose year'})
    select_time(my_time, prompt: {hour: true}) # generic prompt for hours
    select_time(my_time, prompt: true) # generic prompts for all

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 457
    def select_time(datetime = Time.current, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(datetime, options, html_options).select_time
    end

select_year(date, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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.

    # 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)

    # Generates a select field for years with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for a
    # generic prompt.
    select_year(14, prompt: 'Choose year')

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 634
    def select_year(date, options = {}, html_options = {})
      DateTimeSelector.new(date, options, html_options).select_year
    end

time_ago_in_words(from_time, options = {}) click to toggle source

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

    time_ago_in_words(3.minutes.from_now)                 # => 3 minutes
    time_ago_in_words(3.minutes.ago)                      # => 3 minutes
    time_ago_in_words(Time.now - 15.hours)                # => about 15 hours
    time_ago_in_words(Time.now)                           # => less than a minute
    time_ago_in_words(Time.now, include_seconds: true) # => less than 5 seconds

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

    from_time = (3.days + 14.minutes + 25.seconds).ago
    time_ago_in_words(from_time)      # => 3 days

Note that you cannot pass a `Numeric` value to `time_ago_in_words`.

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 156
    def time_ago_in_words(from_time, options = {})
      distance_of_time_in_words(from_time, Time.now, options)
    end

Also aliased as: distance_of_time_in_words_to_now
time_select(object_name, method, options = {}, html_options = {}) click to toggle source

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`. You can get hours in the AM/PM format with `:ampm` option.

This method will also generate 3 input hidden tags, for the actual year, month and day unless the option `:ignore_date` is set to `true`. If you set the `:ignore_date` to `true`, you must have a `date_select` on the same method within the form otherwise an exception will be raised.

If anything is passed in the html_options hash it will be applied to every select tag in the set.

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

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

    # You can set the <tt>:minute_step</tt> to 15 which will give you: 00, 15, 30 and 45.
    time_select 'game', 'game_time', {minute_step: 15}

    # Creates a time select tag with a custom prompt. Use <tt>prompt: true</tt> for generic prompts.
    time_select("article", "written_on", prompt: {hour: 'Choose hour', minute: 'Choose minute', second: 'Choose seconds'})
    time_select("article", "written_on", prompt: {hour: true}) # generic prompt for hours
    time_select("article", "written_on", prompt: true) # generic prompts for all

    # You can set :ampm option to true which will show the hours as: 12 PM, 01 AM .. 11 PM.
    time_select 'game', 'game_time', {ampm: 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.

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 294
    def time_select(object_name, method, options = {}, html_options = {})
      Tags::TimeSelect.new(object_name, method, self, options, html_options).render
    end

time_tag(date_or_time, *args, &block) click to toggle source

Returns an HTML time tag for the given date or time.

    time_tag Date.today  # =>
      <time datetime="2010-11-04">November 04, 2010</time>
    time_tag Time.now  # =>
      <time datetime="2010-11-04T17:55:45+01:00">November 04, 2010 17:55</time>
    time_tag Date.yesterday, 'Yesterday'  # =>
      <time datetime="2010-11-03">Yesterday</time>
    time_tag Date.today, pubdate: true  # =>
      <time datetime="2010-11-04" pubdate="pubdate">November 04, 2010</time>
    time_tag Date.today, datetime: Date.today.strftime('%G-W%V') # =>
      <time datetime="2010-W44">November 04, 2010</time>

    <%= time_tag Time.now do %>
      <span>Right now</span>
    <% end %>
    # => <time datetime="2010-11-04T17:55:45+01:00"><span>Right now</span></time>

    # File lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb, line 655
    def time_tag(date_or_time, *args, &block)
      options  = args.extract_options!
      format   = options.delete(:format) || :long
      content  = args.first || I18n.l(date_or_time, :format => format)
      datetime = date_or_time.acts_like?(:time) ? date_or_time.xmlschema : date_or_time.iso8601

      content_tag(:time, content, options.reverse_merge(:datetime => datetime), &block)
    end