# Action Controller: Nil Object

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/action-controller-nil-object/91605>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [April 10, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/action-controller-nil-object/91605 "2007-04-10T20:18:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/8e7dd6/32.png) [@zak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/zak)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/action-controller-nil-object/91605/1 "2007-04-10T20:18:55Z")

</div>

I am getting this error message, although I have checked the  
show.rhtml file and the corresponding controller file, when trying to  
look at my new permalink. Any advice/help would be appreciated.  
Thanks!

* * *

NoMethodError in Story#show

Showing app/views/story/show.rhtml where line #1 raised:

You have a nil object when you didn’t expect it!  
The error occurred while evaluating nil.name

Extracted source (around line #1):

1:

## \<%= @story.name %\>
  
2: 

\<%= link\_to @story.link, @story.link %\>

RAILS\_ROOT: script/…/config/…  
Application Trace | Framework Trace | Full Trace

#{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/story/show.rhtml:1:in  
`\_run\_rhtml\_47app47views47story47show46rhtml’

/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/action\_view/  
base.rb:326:in `send' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/action_view/ base.rb:326:in`compile\_and\_render\_template’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/action\_view/  
base.rb:301:in `render_template' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/action_view/ base.rb:260:in`render\_file’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/base.rb:806:in `render_file' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/base.rb:711:in`render\_with\_no\_layout’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/layout.rb:247:in `render_without_benchmark' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/benchmarking.rb:50:in`render’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/benchmarking.rb:50:in`render’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/base.rb:1096:in `perform_action_without_filters' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/filters.rb:632:in`call\_filter’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/filters.rb:619:in `perform_action_without_benchmark' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/benchmarking.rb:66:in`perform\_action\_without\_rescue’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/benchmarking.rb:66:in`perform\_action\_without\_rescue’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/rescue.rb:83:in `perform_action' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/base.rb:430:in`send’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/base.rb:430:in `process_without_filters' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/filters.rb:624:in`process\_without\_session\_management\_support’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/session\_management.rb:114:in `process' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/base.rb:330:in`process’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/dispatcher.rb:41:in  
`dispatch' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/webrick_server.rb: 113:in`handle\_dispatch’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/webrick\_server.rb:  
79:in `service' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/httpserver.rb:104:in`service’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/httpserver.rb:65:in `run' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:173:in`start\_thread’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:162:in `start' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:162:in`start\_thread’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:95:in `start' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:92:in`each’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:92:in `start' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:23:in`start’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:82:in `start' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/webrick_server.rb: 63:in`dispatch’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/commands/servers/  
webrick.rb:59  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom\_require.rb:27:in  
`gem_original_require' /usr/local/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom_require.rb:27:in`require’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activesupport-1.4.1/lib/  
active\_support/dependencies.rb:495:in `require' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activesupport-1.4.1/lib/ active_support/dependencies.rb:342:in`new\_constants\_in’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activesupport-1.4.1/lib/  
active\_support/dependencies.rb:495:in `require' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/commands/server.rb: 39 /usr/local/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom_require.rb:27:in`gem\_original\_require’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom\_require.rb:27:in  
`require’  
script/server:3

#{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/story/show.rhtml:1:in  
`_run_rhtml_47app47views47story47show46rhtml' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/action_view/ base.rb:326:in`send’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/action\_view/  
base.rb:326:in `compile_and_render_template' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/action_view/ base.rb:301:in`render\_template’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/action\_view/  
base.rb:260:in `render_file' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/base.rb:806:in`render\_file’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/base.rb:711:in `render_with_no_layout' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/layout.rb:247:in`render\_without\_benchmark’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:50:in `render' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in`measure’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:50:in `render' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/base.rb:1096:in`perform\_action\_without\_filters’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/filters.rb:632:in `call_filter' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/filters.rb:619:in`perform\_action\_without\_benchmark’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:66:in  
`perform_action_without_rescue' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in`measure’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/benchmarking.rb:66:in  
`perform_action_without_rescue' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/rescue.rb:83:in`perform\_action’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/base.rb:430:in `send' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/base.rb:430:in`process\_without\_filters’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/filters.rb:624:in  
`process_without_session_management_support' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/ action_controller/session_management.rb:114:in`process’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.2/lib/  
action\_controller/base.rb:330:in `process' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/dispatcher.rb:41:in`dispatch’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/webrick\_server.rb:  
113:in `handle_dispatch' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/webrick_server.rb: 79:in`service’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/httpserver.rb:104:in `service' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/httpserver.rb:65:in`run’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:173:in `start_thread' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:162:in`start’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:162:in `start_thread' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:95:in`start’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:92:in `each' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:92:in`start’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:23:in `start' /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/webrick/server.rb:82:in`start’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/webrick\_server.rb:  
63:in `dispatch' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/commands/servers/ webrick.rb:59 /usr/local/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom_require.rb:27:in`gem\_original\_require’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom\_require.rb:27:in  
`require' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activesupport-1.4.1/lib/ active_support/dependencies.rb:495:in`require’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activesupport-1.4.1/lib/  
active\_support/dependencies.rb:342:in `new_constants_in' /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activesupport-1.4.1/lib/ active_support/dependencies.rb:495:in`require’  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.2/lib/commands/server.rb:  
39  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom\_require.rb:27:in  
`gem_original_require' /usr/local/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom_require.rb:27:in`require’  
script/server:3

Request

Parameters: {“permalink”=\>“my-shiny-weblog”}

Show session dump

* * *

flash: !map:ActionController::Flash::FlashHash {}

Response  
Headers: {“cookie”=\>[], “Cache-Control”=\>“no-cache”}

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/8e7dd6/32.png) [@zak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/zak)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/action-controller-nil-object/91605/2 "2007-04-10T20:26:56Z")

</div>

Um, @story is nil.

You’ll have to post the controller code for any help.

Jason

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/8e7dd6/32.png) [@zak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/zak)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/action-controller-nil-object/91605/3 "2007-04-10T20:39:59Z")

</div>

I’ve been back tracking all my work. Now I am getting a Routing Error  
looking like this: Routing Error

no route found to match “/story/new/show/my-shiny-weblog” with  
{:method=\>:get}

And my controller looks like this:

class StoryController \< ApplicationController  
def index  
@story = Story.find(:first, :order =\> ‘RAND()’)  
end

def new  
@story = Story.new(params[:story])  
if request.post? and @story.save  
flash[:notice] = ‘Story submission succeeded’  
redirect\_to :action =\> ‘index’  
end  
end

def show  
@story = Story.find\_by\_permalink(params[:permalink])  
end  
end

* * *