fixed read method to use value before type cast

added AR version checks in specs
include AR from vendor if in Rails app

lib/validates_timeliness/attribute_methods.rb

@@ -7,25 +7,34 @@ module ValidatesTimeliness
     
     module ClassMethods
       def define_read_method_for_time_zone_conversion(attr_name)
-        method_body = <<-EOV
+        method_body = <<-EOV          
           def #{attr_name}(reload = false)
             cached = @attributes_cache['#{attr_name}']
             return cached if cached && !reload
-            time = read_attribute('#{attr_name}')
+            time = read_attribute_before_type_cast('#{attr_name}')
-            unless time.acts_like?(:time)
+            if time && time.acts_like?(:time)
-              time = time.to_time(:local) rescue nil
+              # Rails 2.0.x compatibility check
+              time = time.respond_to?(:in_time_zone) ? time.in_time_zone : time
+            elsif time
+              # checks date is valid
+              time.to_date rescue time = nil
+              time = time.to_time(:local) if time              
             end
-            @attributes_cache['#{attr_name}'] = time.acts_like?(:time) ? time.in_time_zone : time
+            @attributes_cache['#{attr_name}'] = time
           end
         EOV
         evaluate_attribute_method attr_name, method_body
       end
       
+      # TODO rails 2.0 time casting better with timezone
       def define_write_method_for_time_zone_conversion(attr_name)
         method_body = <<-EOV
-          def #{attr_name}=(time)
+          def #{attr_name}=(time)            
-            if time
+            if time && time.respond_to?(:in_time_zone)
-              time = time.in_time_zone if time.acts_like?(:time)              
+              time = time.in_time_zone
+            elsif time && time.acts_like?(:time)              
+              # Rails 2.0.x compatibility
+              time = @@default_timezone == :utc ? time.to_time : time.to_time
             end
             write_attribute(:#{attr_name}, time)
           end

spec/attribute_methods_spec.rb

@@ -23,24 +23,37 @@ describe ValidatesTimeliness::AttributeMethods do
     end
     
     it "should return Time object for attribute_before_type_cast when written as Time" do
-      @person.birth_date_and_time = time = Time.mktime(1980, 12, 25, 1, 2, 3)
+      @person.birth_date_and_time = Time.mktime(1980, 12, 25, 1, 2, 3)
-      @person.birth_date_and_time_before_type_cast.should == time
+      @person.birth_date_and_time_before_type_cast.should be_kind_of(Time)
     end
 
     it "should return Time object using attribute read method when written with string" do
       @person.birth_date_and_time = "1980-12-25 01:02:03"
-      @person.birth_date_and_time.should == Time.mktime(1980, 12, 25, 1, 2, 3)
+      @person.birth_date_and_time.should be_kind_of(Time)
     end
     
-    it "should read stored time with correct timezone"
+    if ActiveRecord::VERSION::STRING < '2.1'
+      it "should return stored time string as Time with correct timezone" do
+        @person.birth_date_and_time = "1980-12-25 01:02:03"
+        @person.birth_date_and_time.zone == Time.new.zone
+      end
+    end    
     
-    it "should return nil when date is invalid"
+    unless ActiveRecord::VERSION::STRING < '2.1'
+      it "should return stored time string as Time with correct timezone" do
+        @person.birth_date_and_time = "1980-12-25 01:02:03"
+        @person.birth_date_and_time.zone == Time.zone
+      end
+    end    
+    
+    it "should return nil when time is invalid" do
+      @person.birth_date_and_time = "1980-02-30 01:02:03"
+      @person.birth_date_and_time.should be_nil
+    end
   end  
   
   describe "for Date columns" do
     before do
-      Person.define_read_method_for_time_zone_conversion(:birth_date)
-      Person.define_write_method_for_time_zone_conversion(:birth_date)
       @person = Person.new
     end
     
@@ -59,12 +72,12 @@ describe ValidatesTimeliness::AttributeMethods do
     
     it "should return Date object for attribute_before_type_cast when written as Date" do
       @person.birth_date = date = Date.new(1980, 12, 25)
-      @person.birth_date_before_type_cast.should == date
+      @person.birth_date_before_type_cast.should be_kind_of(Date)
     end
 
     it "should return Date object using attribute read method when written with string" do
       @person.birth_date = "1980-12-25"
-      @person.birth_date.should == Date.new(1980, 12, 25)
+      @person.birth_date.should be_kind_of(Date)
     end
     
     it "should read stored time with correct timezone"

spec/spec_helper.rb

@@ -2,7 +2,14 @@ $: << File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../lib' << File.dirname(__FILE__)
 
 require 'rubygems'
 require 'spec'
-require 'active_record'
+
+if File.exists?(File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../../../rails')
+  require 'activerecord/lib/active_record'
+  require 'activerecord/lib/active_record/version' 
+else  
+  require 'active_record'
+  require 'active_record/version'
+end
 
 require 'validates_timeliness'