\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 1, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/class-def-error-when-serving-stand-alone-rhtml-files/100789 "2006-08-01T02:31:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1
**Author:**  [@maxbohr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/maxbohr)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/class-def-error-when-serving-stand-alone-rhtml-files/100789/1 "2006-08-01T02:31:47Z")
I’m attempting to set up a rails app so that I can add rhtml files
without having to create controllers for each one. I want a simple
solution to serving static-like rhtml files as well as those with a
little logic. The solution I found is this one:
I added the following controller
static\_controller.rb
#####################
class StaticController \< ApplicationController
end
I then created a folder named static in my views folder. All seemed
fine(it worked) until I attempted to create a class in my rhtml code and
the following error was thrown:
compile error
script/…/config/…/app/views/static/imageMediation.rhtml:12: class
definition in method body
I’m a bit of a noob if you can’t tell. Any help would be appreciated.
Best
---
**Author:**  [@maxbohr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/maxbohr)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/class-def-error-when-serving-stand-alone-rhtml-files/100789/2 "2006-08-01T02:58:14Z")
the whole point of the controller is to interact between your views and
your
models. This may be why your view is giving you a hard time. If you’re
serving out pages that don’t interact with the database at all, this is
a
good method, but as soon as you want to access a class, you should do
that
through the controller. I believe that when you don’t declare the
action in
the controller, you bypass the controller. That might have something to
do
with why you can’t access any models.
---
**Author:**  [@maxbohr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/maxbohr)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/class-def-error-when-serving-stand-alone-rhtml-files/100789/3 "2006-08-01T03:31:30Z")
Mike W. wrote:
> the whole point of the controller is to interact between your views and
> your
> models. This may be why your view is giving you a hard time. If you’re
> serving out pages that don’t interact with the database at all, this is
> a
> good method, but as soon as you want to access a class, you should do
> that
> through the controller. I believe that when you don’t declare the
> action in
> the controller, you bypass the controller. That might have something to
> do
> with why you can’t access any models.
Right, I’m not trying to access the DB. The class is defined within the
rhtml file like this for instance:
\<%
class MyClass
end
%\>
blah
I get the error mentioned even if I don’t try to instantiate the class.
Is there some other(better) way to serve this sort of “one-shot” rhtml?
Thanks,
max
---
**Author:**  [@maxbohr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/maxbohr)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/class-def-error-when-serving-stand-alone-rhtml-files/100789/4 "2006-08-01T03:48:39Z")
Hi –
On Tue, 1 Aug 2006, Max B. wrote:
> > the controller, you bypass the controller. That might have something to
>
> blah
>
> I get the error mentioned even if I don’t try to instantiate the class.
>
> Is there some other(better) way to serve this sort of “one-shot” rhtml?
You should be able to circumvent the class definition in a method body
error by doing this:
Object.const\_set(“MyClass”, Class.new { def x…; end })
But it does seem to cry out for a controller, or perhaps a class
definition in a file in /lib (or maybe a helper file).
David
–
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----\> SEE SPECIAL DEAL FOR RUBY/RAILS USERS GROUPS! \<-----
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---
**Author:**  [@maxbohr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/maxbohr)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/class-def-error-when-serving-stand-alone-rhtml-files/100789/5 "2006-08-01T20:37:20Z")
unknown wrote:
> Hi –
>
> On Tue, 1 Aug 2006, Max B. wrote:
>
> > > the controller, you bypass the controller. That might have something to
> >
> > blah
> >
> > I get the error mentioned even if I don’t try to instantiate the class.
> >
> > Is there some other(better) way to serve this sort of “one-shot” rhtml?
>
> You should be able to circumvent the class definition in a method body
> error by doing this:
>
> Object.const\_set(“MyClass”, Class.new { def x…; end })
>
> But it does seem to cry out for a controller, or perhaps a class
> definition in a file in /lib (or maybe a helper file).
>
> David
>
> –
> [http://www.rubypowerandlight.com](http://www.rubypowerandlight.com) =\> Ruby/Rails training & consultancy
> ----\> SEE SPECIAL DEAL FOR RUBY/RAILS USERS GROUPS! \<-----
> [http://dablog.rubypal.com](http://dablog.rubypal.com) =\> D[avid]A[.]B[lack’s][Web]log
> [Ruby for Rails](http://www.manning.com/black) =\> book, Ruby for Rails
> [http://www.rubycentral.org](http://www.rubycentral.org) =\> Ruby Central, Inc.
Thanks,
Sticking the classes in /lib works great.
Best,
Max