# Storing seconds, retrieving sensible data

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-seconds-retrieving-sensible-data/123353>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [December 17, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-seconds-retrieving-sensible-data/123353 "2007-12-17T00:14:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![galeal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@galeal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/galeal)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-seconds-retrieving-sensible-data/123353/1 "2007-12-17T00:14:59Z")

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I want to construct a time period, i.e. say a user has 1 month, 3 days  
and 10 hours to do something. I want to store this information in a  
database, and instead of storing this information in 3 fields, I want  
to store it in one.  
I have 3 select boxes, one for Month, Days, and Hours, and I’m using  
“before\_save” to convert the selected value into seconds.

However, when I retrieve the information from the database what would  
be the best way to retrieve the Month, Days and Hours information  
again?

Thanks in advance.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![galeal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@galeal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/galeal)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-seconds-retrieving-sensible-data/123353/2 "2007-12-17T00:43:03Z")

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Store it as a datetime field and then use distance\_of\_time\_in\_words to  
work  
out how long the user has to do it.

On Dec 17, 2007 9:44 AM, Luke G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> again?
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> >

–  
Ryan B.

> **[frozenplague.net](http://www.frozenplague.net)**
>
> This domain may be for sale!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![galeal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@galeal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/galeal)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2007, 5:38am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-seconds-retrieving-sensible-data/123353/3 "2007-12-17T05:38:55Z")

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or you could read my other reply here:

[http://railsforum.com/viewtopic.php?pid=48008#p48008](http://railsforum.com/viewtopic.php?pid=48008#p48008)

On Dec 17, 2007 10:12 AM, Ryan B. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> > to store it in one.
> 
> –  
> Ryan B.  
> [http://www.frozenplague.net](http://www.frozenplague.net)

–  
Ryan B.

> **[frozenplague.net](http://www.frozenplague.net)**
>
> This domain may be for sale!