Noobie problems with helper

Rails
1

I have the following helper method in application_helper.rb:

def format_date(date)
day = to_s(date.day)
month = to_s(date.month)
time = to_s(date.time)

date = day + "/" + month + " - " + time
return date

end

I am trying to call this method in a view like this:

<%= format_date(bounty.created_on) %>

create_on is a timestamp in mysql. I am getting this error:

ArgumentError in Bounties#index
Showing app/views/bounties/list.rhtml where line #14 raised:
wrong number of arguments (1 for 0)
Extracted source (around line #14):

11:


12: <%= bounty.bounty %>
13: <%= bounty.customer.first_name %>
14: <%= format_date(bounty.created_on) %>
15: <%= link_to ‘Show’, :action => ‘show’, :id => bounty %>
16: <%= link_to ‘Edit’, :action => ‘edit’, :id => bounty %>
17: <%= link_to ‘Destroy’, { :action => ‘destroy’, :id => bounty
}, :confirm => ‘Are you sure?’, :post => true %>

I am a ruby, rails, and programming newbie so I’m sure there is just a
simple syntax error. Thanks for the help in advance.

2

Hi Jonathan,

I notice your code below uses “bounty.created_on” but you say just below
that “create_on” is a timestamp in mysql". If that’s not just a typo
(i.e.,
created_on vs. create_on), that’s one place to look.

hth,
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: “Jonathan Towell” [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 10:23 AM
Subject: [Rails] Noobie problems with helper

3

I notice your code below uses “bounty.created_on” but you say just below
that “create_on” is a timestamp in mysql". If that’s not just a typo
(i.e.,
created_on vs. create_on), that’s one place to look.

sry, I meant to say that created_on is the timestamp in mysql. That was
a typo in my post, but should be correct in the code.

4

if you really want to
format the call it as a method instead: date.day.to_s (Also, trying to

Um, that should just read “Call it as a method instead …”

Matt

5

def format_date(date)
day = to_s(date.day)
month = to_s(date.month)
time = to_s(date.time)

date = day + "/" + month + " - " + time
return date

end

The error is in your call of the to_s function. if you really want to
format the call it as a method instead: date.day.to_s (Also, trying to
call date.time isn’t going to work.)

Maybe you should try date.strftime instead of rolling your own handler?

Matt

6

good call on strftime. That’s what I’ll do instead. I guess I should
read the ruby manual and not just the rails manual :slight_smile: Thanks for the
help!