# Before save infinite loop **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [October 4, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/before-save-infinite-loop/116356 "2007-10-04T19:11:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![whitewolfaustria](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@whitewolfaustria](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/whitewolfaustria)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/before-save-infinite-loop/116356/1 "2007-10-04T19:11:35Z")
Hi all Heres what I am trying to do, I have a table that has a process and it has process\_details process has\_many process\_details, foreign\_key =\> :process\_id process\_detail belongs\_to process each process has a number that is associated with it, the step it is 1,2,3,4 . . … Now the steps can be changed if the process changes, for example step 3 becomes step 1 . My algorithm is trying to update each record in before\_save that would need to be change to keep the ordering . (1,2 would be change to 2,3 respectively) the problem is is that I am calling update in before save which initiates before save again. if anyone has an ideas to stop the recursiveness of this call or another way to keep the ordering please tell me, all help is appreciated. White W. ---
**Author:** ![whitewolfaustria](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@whitewolfaustria](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/whitewolfaustria)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/before-save-infinite-loop/116356/2 "2007-10-04T19:18:01Z")
self.attributes[field\_name] = value - this doesnt call the before save method regards ivor ---
**Author:** ![whitewolfaustria](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@whitewolfaustria](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/whitewolfaustria)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/before-save-infinite-loop/116356/3 "2007-10-04T19:30:19Z")
On 10/4/07, White W. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > belongs\_to process > another way to keep the ordering please tell me, all help is > appreciated. Stepping back from the tree to the forest. Have you considered using acts\_as\_list? – Rick DeNatale My blog on Ruby [http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/](http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/)