From: Rob Biedenharn <Rob@...>
Date: 2007-03-06T03:12:02+09:00
Subject: Re: Excel date conversion


On Mar 5, 2007, at 9:38 AM, WKC CCC wrote:

> Is there a way to convert the excel date number i.e. 34516 into a
> datestring: 01-Jul-94
>
> Thanks

 >> require 'data'
=> true
 >> class Numeric
 >>   def to_excel_date
 >>     Date.new(1899,12,30) + self.to_i
 >>     end
 >>   end
=> nil
 >> 34516.to_excel_date
=> #<Date: 4899069/2,0,2299161>
 >> 34516.to_excel_date.strftime("%d-%b-%y")
=> "01-Jul-94"

If that's not quite right, the trick is to find out what date Excel  
says is 0 and add that julian date (Date#jd) to the value you want  
and then you manipulate the Ruby Data object as needed.

-Rob

Rob Biedenharn		http://agileconsultingllc.com
Rob@AgileConsultingLLC.com