# Does anyone know how to write an additional attribute to the **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [July 21, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-write-an-additional-attribute-to-the/110035 "2007-07-21T19:43:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-write-an-additional-attribute-to-the/110035/1 "2007-07-21T19:43:58Z")
I’m enjoying using acts\_as\_taggable and am trying many ways to write an addtional integer key field to the tag.rb so it can in turn belong\_to a parent table. I’ve tried opening up the acts\_as\_taggable.rb trying to find a way to add another attribute but it’s so WEIRD?? Then, I thought I would simply use a before\_create callback on the tag.rb model. Inside the controller.action that calls this method there are some instance variables available. However, when I reference this instance variable while taking a slight detour into the tag.rb code it becomes unavailable? In the controller.create I call this code: @rateme = @slicehit.ratemes.new(params[:rateme]) @rateme.user = current\_user @rateme.tag\_with params[:tags] if params[:tags] respond\_to do |format| if @rateme.save However in the before\_create code in the TAG model I use this; def after\_create self.portal\_id = @slicehit.portal\_id end I always get the “nil.portal\_id error”, although you can see the @slicehit is healthy in the calling code? Has anyone out there ever modified this part of acts\_as\_taggable? Thank you, Kathy ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 9:57am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-write-an-additional-attribute-to-the/110035/2 "2007-07-22T09:57:57Z")
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > I’m enjoying using acts\_as\_taggable and am trying many ways to write > an addtional integer key field to the tag.rb so it can in turn > belong\_to a parent table. why would you want to do this? what use do u need for a belongs\_to for tags? the whole idea of tags is that it belongs\_to belongs\_to :taggable, :polymorphic =\> true anything you want. you don’t need to add a belong\_to statement; it is true for each ‘taggable’ you define. ( you turn a model into a ‘taggable’ object by adding the acts\_as\_taggable statement to the model. ) i may be missing something, though … ? ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-write-an-additional-attribute-to-the/110035/3 "2007-07-22T15:00:06Z")
Shai, Good question. I am writing on application that will serve MANY distinct domains by scoping the request.host. Many of these are entirely unrelated and thus my need to add a key integer field to the tag.rb. Somehow by putting the acts\_as\_? behavior on top of this object makes it act extraordinary and I can’t accomplish adding a row.column value to the record. This is a fundamental need and I can’t make headway. I am using the before\_create callback and it just passes through without ever appearing to fire. Here’s the code on callback: def after\_create self.portal = @portal.id end Do you know anyone I could hire to make this happen? Thank you, Kathleen On Jul 22, 2:57 am, Shai R. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-write-an-additional-attribute-to-the/110035/4 "2007-07-22T15:12:16Z")
ok, so not that i have any real idea what EXACTLY you want to do, but just reading through what you’ve wrote: > am using the before\_create callback and it just passes through without > ever appearing to fire. Here’s the code on callback: > def after\_create > self.portal = @portal.id > end you’re using \*\* after\_create \*\* rather than \*\* before\_create \*\* and that in itself should be a good enough reason you aren’t saving anything - you are assigning “self.portal” after the record is saved. this looks like a stupid solution to a bigger problem you’re having, but if this IS the prob, … there you go. hth ---
**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-write-an-additional-attribute-to-the/110035/5 "2007-07-22T16:12:33Z")
I saw your original message and would like to help, but I don’t think it contained enough of your code to diagnose the problem. At least post the models… Obie On 7/22/07, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > ever appearing to fire. Here’s the code on callback: > > > > I’m enjoying using acts\_as\_taggable and am trying many ways to write > > > true for each ‘taggable’ you define. ( you turn a model into a > > > – Obie F. > **[Best Online Casino in Australia | Top Licensed Casinos for Gamblers](https://toponlinecasinoaustralia.com)** > > Best Online Casino in Australia with licensed games only. Play blackjack, roulette, poker and other top-notch casino games. Enjoy gambling 24/7. Pre-order my book The Rails Way today! [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0321445619](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0321445619)