Allows mass assignment of custom date formats to date columns in ActiveRecord columns

activerecord_date_formats.rb

before_validation :ensure_default_date_format

# Parses dates in european date formats before saving a record
# Accepts dates in the format "dd.mm.yyyy" and "yyyy-mm-dd"
#--------------------------------------------------------------
def ensure_default_date_format
  self.class.columns.select {|c| c.type == :date}.each do |c|
    value_before_type_cast = send("#{c.name}_before_type_cast")
    date = Date.try(:parse, value_before_type_cast, :eu) || Date.parse(value_before_type_cast)
    write_attribute(c.name, date)
  end
end


# Date class extension to parse custom formats by passing in the format symbol
# This came from a StackOverflow question afair, I'll add it as soon as I find it.

class Date
  class << self
    alias orig_parse parse
  end

  def self.parse(_string, _format = nil)
    return Date.orig_parse(_string) unless _format
    Date.strptime(_string, Date::DATE_FORMATS[_format])
  end
end