# Using date\_box

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-date-box/100948>\
**Category:** Engines\
**Created:** [August 2, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-date-box/100948 "2006-08-02T02:14:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gwen\_campbell](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@gwen\_campbell](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gwen_campbell)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-date-box/100948/1 "2006-08-02T02:14:04Z")

</div>

I’m trying to figure out how to use the datebox\_engine in an edit view.  
I’m still new at this, so my terminology might be slightly off here;  
please bare with me 🙂

I can drop datebox in to my \_form.rhtml, per the README’s instructions,  
with

```
<%= date_box %>

```

And by adding

```
<% @dateField = @work_item.date %>

```

immediately before the date\_box line in my \_form.rhtml, I can set the  
default value to be the “date” attribute of the object I am editing.

So far so good.

Where I’m getting stuck, however, is figuring out how to set the input  
name for the date\_box. By default, it wants to be “dateField”, and  
according to the README, I can change this in my environment.rb with

```
module DateboxEngine
    config :elementId, "someNewValue"
end

```

(Actually, the README states this is how to change the input ID.  
However, it appears that the input name changes to match the ID.)

However, I want the input name to be “work\_item[date]”. If I do

```
config :elementId, "work_item[date]"

```

I then get:

```
`@work_item[date]' is not allowed as an instance variable name
Extracted source (around line #7):
4: <p><label for="work_item_date">Date</label><br/>
5:
6:
7: <%= date_box %></p> 8: 9: <p><label

```

for=“work\_item\_hours”\>Hours  
 10: \<%= text\_field ‘work\_item’,  
‘hours’ %\>

```
Trace of template inclusion: /app/views/work_items/edit.rhtml
RAILS_ROOT: /Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/public/../config/..
Application Trace <http://localhost:3000/work_items/edit/1#> |

```

Framework Trace [http://localhost:3000/work\_items/edit/1#](http://localhost:3000/work_items/edit/1#) | Full Trace  
[http://localhost:3000/work\_items/edit/1#](http://localhost:3000/work_items/edit/1#)

/Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/vendor/plugins/datebox\_engine/app/helpers/application\_helper.rb:8:in  
`instance\_variable\_get’

/Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/vendor/plugins/datebox\_engine/app/helpers/application\_helper.rb:8:in  
`date_box' #{RAILS_ROOT}/app/views/work_items/_form.rhtml:7:in `\_run\_rhtml\_work\_items\_\_form’  
#{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/work\_items/edit.rhtml:4:in  
`\_run\_rhtml\_work\_items\_edit’

Is there something that I’m missing here?

Thanks in advance!

Gwen

|/Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/vendor/plugins/datebox\_engine/app/helpers/application\_helper.rb:8:in `instance_variable_get' /Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/vendor/plugins/datebox_engine/app/helpers/application_helper.rb:8:in `date\_box’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/base.rb:314:in  
`compile_and_render_template' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:290:in `render\_template’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/base.rb:249:in  
`render_file' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:264:in `render’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/partials.rb:59:in  
`render_partial' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/benchmarking.rb:29:in `benchmark’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in  
`measure' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:307:in `realtime’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:29:in  
`benchmark' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/partials.rb:58:in `render\_partial’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/base.rb:276:in  
`render' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:314:in `compile\_and\_render\_template’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/base.rb:290:in  
`render_template' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:249:in `render\_file’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/base.rb:699:in  
`render_file' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/base.rb:621:in `render\_with\_no\_layout’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/layout.rb:243:in  
`render_without_benchmark' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/benchmarking.rb:53:in `render’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in  
`measure' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/benchmarking.rb:53:in `render’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/base.rb:911:in  
`perform_action_without_filters' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/filters.rb:368:in `perform\_action\_without\_benchmark’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:69:in  
`perform_action_without_rescue' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:69:in  
`perform_action_without_rescue' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/rescue.rb:82:in `perform\_action’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/base.rb:381:in  
`process_without_filters' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/filters.rb:377:in `process\_without\_session\_management\_support’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/session\_management.rb:117:in  
`process' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/dispatcher.rb:38:in `dispatch’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/fcgi\_handler.rb:150:in  
`process_request' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/fcgi_handler.rb:54:in `process!’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/fcgi-0.8.6.1/fcgi.rb:600:in  
`each_cgi' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/fcgi-0.8.6.1/fcgi.rb:597:in `each\_cgi’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/fcgi\_handler.rb:53:in  
`process!' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/fcgi_handler.rb:23:in `process!’  
/Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/public/dispatch.fcgi:24|

|/Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/vendor/plugins/datebox\_engine/app/helpers/application\_helper.rb:8:in `instance_variable_get' /Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/vendor/plugins/datebox_engine/app/helpers/application_helper.rb:8:in `date\_box’  
#{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/work\_items/\_form.rhtml:7:in  
`_run_rhtml_work_items__form' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:314:in `compile\_and\_render\_template’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/base.rb:290:in  
`render_template' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:249:in `render\_file’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/base.rb:264:in  
`render' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/partials.rb:59:in `render\_partial’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:29:in  
`benchmark' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:307:in  
`realtime' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/benchmarking.rb:29:in `benchmark’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/partials.rb:58:in  
`render_partial' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:276:in `render’  
#{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/work\_items/edit.rhtml:4:in  
`_run_rhtml_work_items_edit' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:314:in `compile\_and\_render\_template’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_view/base.rb:290:in  
`render_template' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_view/base.rb:249:in `render\_file’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/base.rb:699:in  
`render_file' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/base.rb:621:in `render\_with\_no\_layout’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/layout.rb:243:in  
`render_without_benchmark' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/benchmarking.rb:53:in `render’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in  
`measure' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/benchmarking.rb:53:in `render’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/base.rb:911:in  
`perform_action_without_filters' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/filters.rb:368:in `perform\_action\_without\_benchmark’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:69:in  
`perform_action_without_rescue' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:69:in  
`perform_action_without_rescue' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/rescue.rb:82:in `perform\_action’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/base.rb:381:in  
`process_without_filters' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action_controller/filters.rb:377:in `process\_without\_session\_management\_support’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.12.3/lib/action\_controller/session\_management.rb:117:in  
`process' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/dispatcher.rb:38:in `dispatch’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/fcgi\_handler.rb:150:in  
`process_request' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/fcgi_handler.rb:54:in `process!’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/fcgi-0.8.6.1/fcgi.rb:600:in  
`each_cgi' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/fcgi-0.8.6.1/fcgi.rb:597:in `each\_cgi’  
/Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/fcgi\_handler.rb:53:in  
`process!' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/rails112.locobundle/i386/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.1.4/lib/fcgi_handler.rb:23:in `process!’  
/Users/arakune/Sites/Margaret/public/dispatch.fcgi:24|

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gwen\_campbell](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@gwen\_campbell](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gwen_campbell)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-date-box/100948/2 "2006-08-02T03:19:02Z")

</div>

Gwen,

Please read this post from me a few days ago - it will make your  
implementation a little easier. If it doesn’t work, please email me at  
codeslush at yahoo dot com because I don’t check the “engines” forum  
regularly.

[http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/75271#new](http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/75271#new)

Thanks,

Michael