# Collecting data from many instance of same field

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/collecting-data-from-many-instance-of-same-field/104800>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [May 22, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/collecting-data-from-many-instance-of-same-field/104800 "2007-05-22T18:52:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mario\_TSL](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Mario\_TSL](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Mario_TSL)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/collecting-data-from-many-instance-of-same-field/104800/1 "2007-05-22T18:52:13Z")

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How do I format a view to handle multiple instances of the same field.  
For example, I want to send an email to several recipients. I list the  
same field 5 times:

Email: \<%= text\_field 'invitation', 'recipient\_email', :onkeyup =\> 'verifyInput()' %\>

Email: \<%= text\_field 'invitation', 'recipient\_email', :onkeyup =\> 'verifyInput()' %\>

Email: \<%= text\_field 'invitation', 'recipient\_email', :onkeyup =\> 'verifyInput()' %\>

Email: \<%= text\_field 'invitation', 'recipient\_email', :onkeyup =\> 'verifyInput()' %\>

Email: \<%= text\_field 'invitation', 'recipient\_email', :onkeyup =\> 'verifyInput()' %\>

I can’t seem to collect the various instances of the input within the  
controller. I have also tried the text\_field\_tag.

Would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks.  
Mario

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mario\_TSL](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Mario\_TSL](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Mario_TSL)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/collecting-data-from-many-instance-of-same-field/104800/2 "2007-05-23T00:30:41Z")

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You need to give each one unique names like invitation1, invitation2,  
etc. Then you can place them in a separate table or whatever you want  
to do with them.

Michael

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mario\_TSL](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Mario\_TSL](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Mario_TSL)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/collecting-data-from-many-instance-of-same-field/104800/3 "2007-05-23T00:36:52Z")

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> You need to give each one unique names like invitation1, invitation2, etc.

Thanks…

I realized this possibility, however, I was looking to treat them as an  
array. Does Rails handle converting multiple like-named inputs to an  
array?