# Get datetime object

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/get-datetime-object/133901>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [April 4, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/get-datetime-object/133901 "2008-04-04T19:35:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/get-datetime-object/133901/1 "2008-04-04T19:35:53Z")

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how to convert the string in this format =“Monday April, 3, 2006 10:34  
AM” into a datetime object. When i use Date.parse, i lose the time on  
it. when i use ParseDate.parsedate(d)  
i get only a array. any help is appreciated.

E:\TradingTools\CODE\>irb  
irb(main):001:0\> d=“Monday April, 3, 2006 10:34 AM”  
=\> “Monday April, 3, 2006 10:34 AM”  
irb(main):002:0\> Date.parse(d)  
=\> #\<Date: 4907657/2,0,2299161\>

irb(main):004:0\> pd=ParseDate.parsedate(d)  
=\> [2006, 4, 3, 10, 34, nil, nil, 1]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/get-datetime-object/133901/2 "2008-04-04T19:57:03Z")

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Junkone wrote:

> =\> #\<Date: 4907657/2,0,2299161\>
> 
> irb(main):004:0\> pd=ParseDate.parsedate(d)  
> =\> [2006, 4, 3, 10, 34, nil, nil, 1]

If you want a DateTime object, then you need to use that, not Date.

irb(main):001:0\> require ‘date’  
=\> true  
irb(main):002:0\> date = DateTime.parse(“Monday April, 3, 2006 10:34 AM”)  
=\> #\<DateTime: 1766756837/720,0,2299161\>  
irb(main):003:0\> date.strftime  
=\> “2006-04-03T10:34:00+00:00”

-Justin

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/get-datetime-object/133901/3 "2008-04-04T20:45:51Z")

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On Apr 4, 1:56 pm, Justin C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> > =\> #\<Date: 4907657/2,0,2299161\>  
> > irb(main):003:0\> date.strftime  
> > =\> “2006-04-03T10:34:00+00:00”
> 
> -Justin- Hide quoted text -
> 
> - Show quoted text -

thanks. it works