# Change date and numbers format, before\_validation() **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [March 4, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/change-date-and-numbers-format-before-validation/161958 "2009-03-04T07:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raimon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/change-date-and-numbers-format-before-validation/161958/1 "2009-03-04T07:56:41Z")
Hello, I need to change/adapt of the date and float numbers the user enters: dd/mm/yyyy I have to change into yyyy-mm-dd and numbers, replace the , with the . 1245,85 =\> 1245.85 I thought the best place was using the before\_validation() but here the objects come with standard Rails formats, and the date is wrong, and the numbers are also wrong. Now I’m doing all the stuff in the Controller: def update @transaction=Transaction.find(params[:id]) if @transaction.update\_attributes(params[:transaction]) @transaction.data=convert\_european\_date(@transaction.data.to\_s) @transaction.amount = params[:transaction][:amount].to\_s.gsub(’,’, ‘.’).to\_f end … But this is a pain If I have to duplicate code for new and update controllers method. So I tried to move the code into the model before\_validation but there the self.data and self.amount are wrong, as Rails adapt them to what they think it’s the standard way … In the controller I can get the fresh value from params, but in the model it doesn’t exist … what’s the best solution to my problem ? thanks! r. ---
**Author:** ![raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raimon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/change-date-and-numbers-format-before-validation/161958/2 "2009-03-04T09:10:38Z")
since this problem is closely linked to your user’s entries, you gotta solve it in your view or controller. to not repeat yourself too much you could add a helper-method for that piece of code you are using to set your records straight. ---
**Author:** ![raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raimon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 9:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/change-date-and-numbers-format-before-validation/161958/3 "2009-03-04T09:15:28Z")
MaD wrote: > since this problem is closely linked to your user’s entries, you gotta > solve it in your view or controller. to not repeat yourself too much > you could add a helper-method for that piece of code you are using to > set your records straight. yes and no, this problem is the same for lots of users that doesn’t follow the US format number and dates … I’m using the helpers for displaying the records, but I can’t use them in the controller, so I created two methods in the Application Controller, at least it’s working but not the way Rails is proposing … thanks! r. ---
**Author:** ![raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raimon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/change-date-and-numbers-format-before-validation/161958/4 "2009-03-04T09:42:40Z")
MaD wrote: > well, helpers are really meant for helping with displaying your data. > thats right. i actually didn’t mean to write a helper-method, but a > method (in your controller) to help you with setting your records. my > fault (got lost in translating my thoughts). > i think your aproach of putting it into application-controller is a > good one (as long as you really need that method in more than one > controller). yes, you’re right: helpers are for help no matter where they help … 🙂 r. ---
**Author:** ![raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raimon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 9:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/change-date-and-numbers-format-before-validation/161958/5 "2009-03-04T09:40:05Z")
well, helpers are really meant for helping with displaying your data. thats right. i actually didn’t mean to write a helper-method, but a method (in your controller) to help you with setting your records. my fault (got lost in translating my thoughts). i think your aproach of putting it into application-controller is a good one (as long as you really need that method in more than one controller). ---
**Author:** ![raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raimon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 11:43am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/change-date-and-numbers-format-before-validation/161958/6 "2009-03-04T11:43:33Z")
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 9:39 AM, MaD [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > well, helpers are really meant for helping with displaying your data. > thats right. i actually didn’t mean to write a helper-method, but a > method (in your controller) to help you with setting your records. my > fault (got lost in translating my thoughts). > i think your aproach of putting it into application-controller is a > good one (as long as you really need that method in more than one > controller). One question I have for some time now is: What is the idiomatic place in the directory tree for positioning such “controller\_helpers” ? …/app/helpers/ is really for view helpers. Of course, they could go in …/app/controllers/application.rb but then, that is inherited by _all_ controllers. We now put some “controller-helpers” in modules under /lib/ and then include those modules selectively in controllers. Or should we use sub classes for everything, but I read that is not the “Rails-way” either. Would it make sense to have default locations for “controller\_helpers”. Maybe something along the lines of: /app/view\_helpers /app/controller\_helpers /app/helpers → /app/view\_helpers The concept of helper :all (that we actually use now in …/app/controllers/application.rb) also seems broken as this is unclean mixing of view and controller helpers. How should I do this in a clean fashion ? Thanks, Peter ---
**Author:** ![raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@raimon](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raimon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/change-date-and-numbers-format-before-validation/161958/7 "2009-03-04T14:45:44Z")
well, you could always create a helper with an arbitrary name and include them in your controller. that way helpers are all huddled together in one folder, but that special controller\_helper gets only included in controller that depend on it.