My previous post seems to dead , aka, no replies. Thought I’d take a
broader approach.
I have a restful controller (created via the scaffold_resources in
edgerails). I want to create a search function. While I added the
search
function into the controller, things seem to by pass my ‘def
search…’. Is this normal for a rest controller and can anyone
suggest a better way ?
TIA
Stuart
–
My first questions are, “what is the functionality you’re trying to
create?” and, “do you need a search(es) controller?”
I’m building an app right now that is a search-type tool. I have three
different kinds of resources I use: Query (base class), Search and
AdvancedSearch (both inherit from Query). So then I’ve mapped the
resources in routes.rb.
Likely, you’re not creating models for your searches as I have, but I
wouldn’t be surprised if creating a “search” or “searches” controller
would lead you down the easy path–then you just use the CRUD actions
for your searches.
Jamie
On 10/4/06, Jamie Orchard-Hays [email protected] wrote:
My first questions are, “what is the functionality you’re trying to
create?” and, “do you need a search(es) controller?”I’m building an app right now that is a search-type tool. I have three
different kinds of resources I use: Query (base class), Search and
AdvancedSearch (both inherit from Query). So then I’ve mapped the
resources in routes.rb.
Can you give me some more details on this . Particularly, how you
mapped
them ?
Likely, you’re not creating models for your searches as I have, but I
wouldn’t be surprised if creating a “search” or “searches” controller
would lead you down the easy path–then you just use the CRUD actions
for your searches.
Not sure what you mean creating models for searches ? I’ve done all the
relationships / associations. What would creating models specific buy
me
and what does that entail ?
I think you might be right about creating a search controller. I was
hoping
to keep everything contained for the table to search all in one
controller.
Mentally I’m stuck on the idea that search should be restful, but due to
my
inexperience I’m not sure I really know why 
Stuart
Jamie
suggest a better way ?
–
Here are my routes:
map.resources :queries do |queries|
queries.resources :terms, :member => { :toggle_op => :any }
end
map.resources :queries, :member => { :add_term => :any }, :collection
=> { :clear_session => :delete }
map.resources :saved_items, :controller => :saved
map.resources :searches, :advanced_searches, :documents
Notice you can specify the controller name for a resource. When I
started this app, I modeled a Search, but not to the database. Later,
I decided we would be using the db and migrated the architecture to
use ActiveRecord models. (I’m using Single Table Inheritance with
Query as the base class. Queries have Terms.)
Anyway, the main thing about Restful routing of resources is that you
now thing of using Resources instead of creating actions. What’s a
resource? In your case, a Search is a resource, whether it’s an
ActiveRecord model, some other model, or just a virtual one. What can
you do with a resource? You can Create, Update, Delete, and List
(index) the. New and Edit are just views that allow you to then Create
or Update. Everything that’s not the basic CRUD becomes an exception,
so I have :toggle_op and :add_term (which arguably, could be Create on
Term instead, but actually doesn’t work that way in my app).
One thing I’ve learned about Rails–if you follow the conventions,
programming is a lot more rapid and fun. Once you start fighting
Rails’ opinions, you have to work a lot harder. In this case, view
your searches and results as resources. Now you do you architect that
with Restful Routes?
http://david.goodlad.ca/articles/2006/08/02/simply_restful-in-rails-core
http://microformats.org/wiki/rest/rails
Hope this helps.
Jamie
On 10/4/06, Jamie Orchard-Hays [email protected] wrote:
map.resources :searches, :advanced_searches, :documents
ActiveRecord model, some other model, or just a virtual one. What can
with Restful Routes?http://david.goodlad.ca/articles/2006/08/02/simply_restful-in-rails-core
rest/rails - Microformats WikiHope this helps.
Jamie
Jamie, Thank you. Not sure what your asking me “Now you do you
architect
that
with Restful Routes?” but yes, I think I almost understand about
setting
things up as resources. The area that still confuses me, and I posted
last
week about this - map.resources :articles, :collection => {:recent =>
:get}.
I understand that “recent” is the action, via the get method. What I
still
don’t get is how do you set up the :recent ?
Stuart
On 10/4/06, Jamie Orchard-Hays [email protected] wrote:
:path_prefix => "/category/:category_id", :name_prefix => "category_"→ GET /categories/7/messages/1
has named route “category_message”
I’m sort of seeing but having a hard time envisioning what an advanced
search would look like to the user. I can see creating various
conditions
within my CRUD to call on, by user, by date, by title, etc. At the same
time how does one deal with boolean logic in text searches ? I know I’m
close but could use a little more explanation, not the code part but the
methodology.
Stuart
On 10/4/06, Jamie Orchard-Hays [email protected] wrote:
Jamie
I’ve been trying to gain a better understanding of how to use the CRUD
actions. I’ve created a Searches controller and a Search model.
Anyway, I
came across this blog: http://blog.codahale.com/2006/07/01/
and in particular this quotation -
“Instead, consider using a Search model. Create a search resource that
holds
all the options for the query. Then you can execute it whenever you
want.
POST /searches (post data contains query options) would redirect to GET
/searches/42 or GET /people/?searches=42. You could even make it so that
searches are unbound until execution, like blocks: GET
/searches/42?on=people”
My question then does it make sense to structure the controller where
‘new’
or ‘create’ where the search is submitted too and index or show is the
results page ? I’d like to get some comments or feedback since this all
seems relatively new , some controversy about applying CRUD to search
abounds as well.
TIA
Stuart
On 10/6/06, Dark A. [email protected] wrote:
On 10/4/06, Jamie Orchard-Hays [email protected] wrote:
My first questions are, “what is the functionality you’re trying to
create?” and, “do you need a search(es) controller?”
Beast uses the standard index method. In fact, I think these 3 all
call the same action:
http://beast.caboo.se/posts
http://beast.caboo.se/posts?q=rest
http://beast.caboo.se/users/1/posts
It’s not really the most elegant solution, but it’s a compact way of
handling 3 separate actions:
http://svn.techno-weenie.net/projects/beast/trunk/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb
–
Rick O.
http://weblog.techno-weenie.net
http://mephistoblog.com
typo… “How do you…”
Regarding :recent…
Have a look at the docs for rails edge (you can generate them
yourself). Here’s an excerpt about custom actions:
Examples:
map.resources :messages, :path_prefix => “/thread/:thread_id”
map.resources :messages, :collection => { :rss => :get }
map.resources :messages, :member => { :mark => :post }
map.resources :messages, :new => { :preview => :post }
map.resources :messages, :new => { :new => :any, :preview => :post }
map.resources :messages, :controller => “categories”,
:path_prefix => “/category/:category_id”,
:name_prefix => “category_”
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