Question 1

How do I install and set up ValidatesTimeliness in Rails?

Accepted Answer

Add the gem to your Gemfile, run bundle install, then execute 'rails generate validates_timeliness:install' to create configuration files. You'll need to enable the plugin parser and ORM shims in the initializer for full functionality.

Question 2

ValidatesTimeliness vs Rails built-in date validation: which is better?

Accepted Answer

ValidatesTimeliness offers more robust features like timezone handling, custom parsing, and temporal restrictions, while Rails' built-in validation is simpler but lacks these advanced capabilities. Choose ValidatesTimeliness for complex date/time logic.

Question 3

How to validate a date of birth with an age limit using ValidatesTimeliness?

Accepted Answer

Use the validates_date method with a before restriction, e.g., validates_date :date_of_birth, before: lambda { 18.years.ago }, and customize the error message. This ensures the person is at least 18 years old.

Question 4

Does ValidatesTimeliness work with Mongoid or other ORMs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it includes shims for Mongoid and ActiveRecord, but you must configure extend_orms in the initializer. Without this, invalid values might be cached as nil, reducing validation effectiveness.

Question 5

How to handle timezones when using ValidatesTimeliness?

Accepted Answer

The plugin automatically manages timezones based on your Rails or custom default_timezone setting. Ensure your database stores times in UTC and the config matches, or adjust as needed for accurate comparisons.

Question 6

Can I use custom date formats like DD/MM/YYYY with ValidatesTimeliness?

Accepted Answer

Yes, enable the plugin parser and configure the Timeliness gem to add custom formats. This allows strict parsing beyond Ruby's defaults, but requires additional setup in the initializer.

Question 7

What are common pitfalls when using ValidatesTimeliness?

Accepted Answer

Forgetting to enable ORM shims can lead to missed invalid values, and not setting up the plugin parser might cause parsing issues. Also, watch for restriction errors if temporal option values are invalid, which can be ignored via config.

validates_timeliness

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