[ANN] Datetime Toolbocks v3.0.0 (was Datebocks Engine)

[Nathaniel Brown]

I am pleased to announce the latest version of the Datebocks Engine,
now called the "Datetime Toolbocks" plugin. The reason for the name
change is due to the very near future goal to master the world of time
input in addition to date entry.

To cut the email short for those that simply want to see and skip the
chit chat, visit:

http://datetime.toolbocks.com

---

And now for the details...

Here is a list of changes for v3.0.0

== 3.0.0
- Fully Object Orientated
- Changed the helper method name to "toolbocks_date_select" from
"datebocks_field"
- Added options on helper method for Base and Calendar
- Added style for Help icon to show the pointer cursor
- Now able to use symbols on the helpers, such as
toolbocks_date_select(:model, :method)
- Added ability to override input name for helper
- Added auto-detect and install for engines plugin
- Merged DHTML Calendar Engine helper methods (Needs more work)
- Enhanced debugging and error messages for invalid dates
- Now using a single object with parameters. No more ugly HTML elements.
- Able to have multiple datetime toolbocks elements on the same page
with custom attributes
- Added option to disable the help icon & popup window
- Added "2 years from now", "3 days ago", "eleven years from today"
[Darrell Taylor <darr...@gmail.com>]
- Added overloading on the months. If you enter in a number higher
than 12 for the month, it will assume you meant the day

= Datetime Toolbocks

Datetime Toolbocks is a very simple Ruby on Rails Engine which
provides a helper method to
instantly deploy the Datetime Toolbocks into your application.

The Datetime Toolbocks also includes JSCalendar as a subset of
functionality. It is in the long
term goal to enable this plugin to be able to be used as a whole, or
by accessing each part.
Whether that is the JSCalendar with a default text input box, advanced
Datetime Toolbocks
input without JSCalendar, or with both combined which is currently the default.

This software package is developed using the Engines plugin. To find
out more about how to
use engines in general, go to http://svn.rails-engines.org for general
documentation about
the Engines mechanism.

To view a live demo of the Datetime Toolbocks, visit:

http://datetime.toolbocks.com

== Dependancies

This plugin currently only works with the latest version of the
Engines plugin located at:

http://svn.rails-engines.org/plugins/engines/

== Installation

1. Create your Rails application, set up your databases, and install
the Engines plugin.

script/plugin install http://svn.rails-engines.org/plugins/engines/

2. Install the Datetime Toolbocks

script/plugin install http://svn.toolbocks.com/plugins/datetime_toolbocks/

3. Add the following within the "Rails::Initializer.run do |config|"
block in config/environment.rb

config.plugins = ["engines", "*"]

4. The Datetime Toolbocks provides a core stylesheets and in addition
to several javascript files, so you'll
need to include these two lines within your application's layout.
Add the following lines:

<%= stylesheet_link_tag "datetime_toolbocks", "calendar-blue",
:plugin => 'datetime_toolbocks' %>
<%= javascript_rel_tag "datetime_toolbocks", "calendar",
"lang/calendar-en", "calendar-setup", :plugin => 'datetime_toolbocks'
%>

== Usage
For any model (ex Event) that has a :date column, to utilize Datetime
Toolbocks use toolbocks_date_select('event', 'start_date') as a helper
within your view.

<%= toolbocks_date_select :model, :date_column, { :format => 'us',
:autoRollOver => false} %>

== Bugs

Please report any bugs or feature enhancements to http://dev.toolbocks.com

--
Nathaniel Steven Henry Brown

Toll Free: 1-877-446-4647
Vancouver: 604-724-6624

[Meech]

Doesn't work on IE7???

[DyingToLearn]

The sample listed at http://datetime.toolbocks.com works for me and I
have IE7.

> [Darrell Taylor <darre...@gmail.com>]

> - Added overloading on the months. If you enter in a number higher than 12
> for the month, it will assume you meant the day
>
> = Datetime Toolbocks
>
> Datetime Toolbocks is a very simple Ruby on Rails Engine which provides a
> helper method to instantly deploy the Datetime Toolbocks into your
> application.
>
> The Datetime Toolbocks also includes JSCalendar as a subset of
> functionality. It is in the long term goal to enable this plugin to be able
> to be used as a whole, or by accessing each part.
> Whether that is the JSCalendar with a default text input box, advanced
> Datetime Toolbocks input without JSCalendar, or with both combined which is
> currently the default.
>
> This software package is developed using the Engines plugin. To find out

> more about how to use engines in general, go tohttp://svn.rails-engines.org

> for general documentation about the Engines mechanism.
>
> To view a live demo of the Datetime Toolbocks, visit:
>
> http://datetime.toolbocks.com
>
> == Dependancies
>
> This plugin currently only works with the latest version of the Engines
> plugin located at:
>
> http://svn.rails-engines.org/plugins/engines/
>
> == Installation
>
> 1. Create your Rails application, set up your databases, and install the
> Engines plugin.
>

> script/plugin installhttp://svn.rails-engines.org/plugins/engines/

>
> 2. Install the Datetime Toolbocks
>

> script/plugin installhttp://svn.toolbocks.com/plugins/datetime_toolbocks/

>
> 3. Add the following within the "Rails::Initializer.run do |config|"
> block in config/environment.rb
>
> config.plugins = ["engines", "*"]
>
> 4. The Datetime Toolbocks provides a core stylesheets and in addition to
> several javascript files, so you'll
> need to include these two lines within your application's layout.
> Add the following lines:
>
> <%= stylesheet_link_tag "datetime_toolbocks", "calendar-blue", :plugin =>
> 'datetime_toolbocks' %>
> <%= javascript_rel_tag "datetime_toolbocks", "calendar",
> "lang/calendar-en", "calendar-setup", :plugin => 'datetime_toolbocks'
> %>
>
> == Usage
> For any model (ex Event) that has a :date column, to utilize Datetime
> Toolbocks use toolbocks_date_select('event', 'start_date') as a helper
> within your view.
>
> <%= toolbocks_date_select :model, :date_column, { :format => 'us',
> :autoRollOver => false} %>
>
> == Bugs
>

> Please report any bugs or feature enhancements tohttp://dev.toolbocks.com

>
> --
> Nathaniel Steven Henry Brown
>
> Toll Free: 1-877-446-4647

> Vancouver: 604-724-6624- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Nathaniel Brown]

I fixed some bugs :) You are actually seeing v3.0.1 now.

Thanks for updating the thread, this one slipped through on me.

Nathaniel.

[Nathaniel Brown]

Actually v3.0.2 :) Couple updates since.

-NSHB

[Conrad Taylor]

Hi Nathaniel, could you provide an example of entering the datetime
instead of date?

Thanks in advance,

-Conrad

[Conrad Taylor]

Hi, I have a few questions:

1) Is it possible to make the calendar inline HTML?

2) Is it possible to popup the calendar when clicking into the dates
text field?

3) What's the plan for adding time related features?

Thanks in advance,

-Conrad

[Nathaniel Brown]

Hey Conrad,

On 3/28/07, Conrad Taylor <conr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi, I have a few questions:
>
> 1) Is it possible to make the calendar inline HTML?

Yes, though I haven't tried it. It should be a default propery you
pass through on the calendar options, which is the 4th param, second
hash. Their website seems to be down atm, or I would grab the
reference for you.

> 2) Is it possible to popup the calendar when clicking into the dates
> text field?

Not yet, nice idea though.

>
> 3) What's the plan for adding time related features?

I was hoping to get it out for v3, but Engines 1.2 and Rails 1.2
caused me to release it early. It's basically the next thing on my
list. That's why I changed the name to datetime ;)

[Conrad Taylor]

Hi Nathaniel, thanks for gettinhg back to me. If you can send the
location of the reference, it would be great.

Thanks in advance,

-Conrad

[bbebop]

Is it possible to edit the date field by eliminating the date entirely
without triggering an error message (e.g., "Invalid date string.
Format: mm/dd/yyyy")?

[Nathaniel Brown]

Not yet. Although a "required" option sounds like a nice addition.

Nathaniel.