Rails 4 - Convert datetime into separate date and time fields

You can use date_time_attribute gem:

class MyModel < ActiveRecord::Base
  include DateTimeAttribute

  date_time_attribute :scheduled_at
end

It will allow you to set schedule_at_date and scheduled_at_time separately. Once attributes are set, values will be combined into schedule_at.

You could use virtual attributes See this Railscast and if you have a pro subscription the revised one.

Basically in the view you would the following

<%= f.label :date_field %>
<%= f.text :date_field %>
<%= f.label :time_field %>
<%= f.text :time_field %>

Your database would still keep a field which I'll call full_date

Now in your model you would have to define the above 2 fields as follows.

def date_field  # What this returns will be what is shown in the field
  full_date.strftime("%m-%d'%y") if full_date.present?
end 

def time_field
  full_date.strftime("%I:%M%p") if full_date.present?
end

def time_field=(time)
  full_date = DateTime.parse("#{date_field} #{time_field})
end

Since it looks like you are using Rails 4, you'll have to permit date_field and time_field in your strong parameters.

Found the solution with help from @Althaf

Added virtual attributes to model.rb Used before_save callback to convert back to datetime.

before_save :convert_to_datetime

def sched_date_field
  sched_date.strftime("%d/%m/%Y") if sched_date.present?
end 

def sched_time_field
  sched_time.strftime("%I:%M%p") if sched_time.present?
end

def sched_date_field=(date)
  # Change back to datetime friendly format
  @sched_date_field = Date.parse(date).strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
end

def sched_time_field=(time)
  # Change back to datetime friendly format
  @sched_time_field = Time.parse(time).strftime("%H:%M:%S")
end

def convert_to_datetime
  self.sched_time = DateTime.parse("#{@sched_date_field} #{@sched_time_field}")
end

Using Rails 4, needed to add sched_date_field and sched_time_field to strong params in controller.rb

Here are the fields in _form.html.erb

<%= f.label :sched_date_field, "Scheduled Date" %>
<%= f.text_field :sched_date_field, :class => "datepicker" %>

<%= f.label :sched_time_field, "Scheduled Time" %>
<%= f.text_field :sched_time_field, :class => "timepicker" %>