From: Robert Klemme <shortcutter@...>
Date: 2008-02-09T07:05:01+09:00
Subject: Re: converting strings to booleans, symbols, etc

On 08.02.2008 19:51, an an wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I am parsing an xml document, and I wanted to know if there is a quick
> built in way to convert a string to a symbol or a boolean. an example
> xml doc would be:
> 
> <test id="first" search="false">data</test>
> 
> Now I know I can do some string compares, and set the variable
> accordingly, but I was wondering if there are shortcuts, much like the
> to_i method.

You can create yourself some.  One example:

CONV = {
   "false" => false,
   "true" => true,
   "0" => 0,
   "1" => 1,
   # more common / important values
}

def convert(s)
   x = CONV[s]

   if x.nil?
     x = case x
       when /\A[+-]?\d+\z/
         s.to_i
       when /\A[+-]?\d+(?:\.\d+)?\z/
         s.to_f
       # more
       else
         x
     end
   end

   x
end

Kind regards

	robert