def valueFromString(self, value, context=None):
        """
        Converts the inputted string text to a value that matches the type from
        this column type.

        :param      value | <str>
        """
        if value in ('today', 'now'):
            return datetime.date.today()
        elif dateutil_parser:
            return dateutil_parser.parse(value).date()
        else:
            time_struct = time.strptime(value, self.defaultFormat())
            return datetime.date(time_struct.tm_year,
                                 time_struct.tm_month,
                                 time_struct.tm_day)