# Best way to use partial rendering in global layout **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [March 14, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout/81535 "2006-03-14T01:00:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout/81535/1 "2006-03-14T01:00:59Z")
I have a global layout in application.rhtml and I’d like to render a partial template within it. Currently, I have this: \<%= render (:partial =\> ‘side\_nav’) %\> but it seems to be looking in the controller specific view directory. What is the best way to do handle controller - global partial rendering? Wes ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout/81535/2 "2006-03-14T01:08:10Z")
ANSWER: Create a “shared” directory under app/views and do: \<%= render ( :partial =\> ‘shared/side\_nav’ ) %\> THANKS DAVE THOMAS! Wes Wes G. wrote: > I have a global layout in application.rhtml and I’d like to render a > partial template within it. > > Currently, I have this: > > \<%= render (:partial =\> ‘side\_nav’) %\> > > but it seems to be looking in the controller specific view directory. > > What is the best way to do handle controller - global partial rendering? > > Wes ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 11:07am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout/81535/3 "2006-03-14T11:07:12Z")
What if you want to use a global partial most of the time, but sometimes want to override it? ## Would it add any value to have rails check the controller specific directory first, and then automatically look in shared/global/layouts/whatever if not found? Seems intuitive to me, but may just mean higher complexity with no real gain. View this message in context: [http://www.nabble.com/Best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout-t1275884.html#a3393886](http://www.nabble.com/Best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout-t1275884.html#a3393886) Sent from the RubyOnRails Users forum at [Nabble.com](http://Nabble.com). ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout/81535/4 "2006-03-14T16:53:48Z")
I think that’s how it works now, actually. I scaffolded a new controller and the default layout that was generated got used until I removed it, and then the global one got used. Wes Lucifron wrote: > What if you want to use a global partial most of the time, but sometimes > want > to override it? > > ## Would it add any value to have rails check the controller specific directory first, and then automatically look in shared/global/layouts/whatever if not found? Seems intuitive to me, but may just mean higher complexity with no real gain. > > View this message in context: > [http://www.nabble.com/Best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout-t1275884.html#a3393886](http://www.nabble.com/Best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout-t1275884.html#a3393886) > Sent from the RubyOnRails Users forum at [Nabble.com](http://Nabble.com). ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout/81535/5 "2006-03-14T19:06:43Z")
Wes G. wrote: > I think that’s how it works now, actually. > > I scaffolded a new controller and the default layout that was generated > got used until I removed it, and then the global one got used. > > Wes > Layouts work this way, yes, but not partials. – View this message in context: [http://www.nabble.com/Best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout-t1275884.html#a3401727](http://www.nabble.com/Best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout-t1275884.html#a3401727) Sent from the RubyOnRails Users forum at [Nabble.com](http://Nabble.com). ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout/81535/6 "2006-03-14T19:12:56Z")
That’s right. I don’t know - I think someone would find a good use for that feature with partials. Wes Lucifron wrote: > Wes G. wrote: > > > I think that’s how it works now, actually. > > > > I scaffolded a new controller and the default layout that was generated > > got used until I removed it, and then the global one got used. > > > > Wes > > Layouts work this way, yes, but not partials. > > – > View this message in context: > [http://www.nabble.com/Best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout-t1275884.html#a3401727](http://www.nabble.com/Best-way-to-use-partial-rendering-in-global-layout-t1275884.html#a3401727) > Sent from the RubyOnRails Users forum at [Nabble.com](http://Nabble.com).