def to_date(value)
        if value.nil? or value.strip.empty?
          nil
        else
          Date.strptime(value, date_format)
        end
      end
def to_date(value)
        if value.nil? or value.strip.empty?
          nil
        else
          Date.strptime(value, date_format)
        end
      end
def to_date ( value ) if value . nil? or value . strip . empty? nil else Date . strptime ( value , date_format ) end end
Casts a string to a date
Casts a string to a date