string_extensions.rb

class String
  # "Příšerně žluťoučký kůň úpěl ďábelské ódy".strip_diacritics =>
  # "Priserne zlutoucky kun upel dabelske ody"
  def strip_diacritics
    self.mb_chars.normalize(:kd).to_s.gsub(/[^\x00-\x7F]/, '')
  end
  
  # Little hacks to allow using also decimal comma (used in EU) not only decimal point
  # "3,75".to_d => 3.75
  # "3,75".to_f => 3.75
  alias_method :original_to_d, :to_d
  def to_d
    gsub(/,/, ".").original_to_d
  end

  alias_method :original_to_f, :to_f
  def to_f
    gsub(/,/, ".").original_to_f
  end
end