# File\_column and HABTM **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [December 23, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-and-habtm/50964 "2005-12-23T06:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aroth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-and-habtm/50964/1 "2005-12-23T06:18:22Z")
I have several models that will be using file\_column by way of the “Picture” class (HABTM). Right now, all pictures are stored in: public/picture/image/1/filename1.jpg public/picture/image/2/filename2.jpg Is there a way I can dynamically define the “store\_dir” based on the model? For example, if I have “user”, “product” and “place” models all of which HATBTM “picture”, I’d like uploads to be located in: public/picture/user/1/filename.jpg ## user pic public/picture/product/6/filename.jpg ## product pic public/picture/place/102/filename.jpg ## place pic (…or someplace similar, organized by model). Is this concept possible? Thanks Adam. ---
**Author:** ![aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aroth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-and-habtm/50964/2 "2005-12-24T02:03:03Z")
Kyle Thanks a lot! You’re always helpful. One more thing… setting the store\_dir does what I want, almost. With this I can set the path prefix, but for the id, it’s still using the id from the “Picture” class. Is there a way I can have this use the id from the user, place, profile, etc… class insstead? Upload goes to: picture/user/PICTURE\_ID/filename can I set it to go to: picture/user/USER\_ID/filename (if I know I’m dealing with the “user” class, etc… ) Thanks for all your help Adam. ---
**Author:** ![aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aroth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-and-habtm/50964/3 "2005-12-26T02:01:10Z")
Fair enough. Two more quick ones. I’m using store\_dir =\> :my\_store …which saves the files in the right location, but url\_for\_image\_column seems to be disregarding this. For example, I’m telling store\_dir to use ‘/pictures/user’, but url\_for\_image\_column is still looking in ‘/picture/filename’. Second, I’m using Switchtower to manage deployment. My pictures are stored in /pics, but I don’t want pictures in svn. Each new release is deployed with an empty /pics dir, and I have to copy over the pictures manually. Do you have a suggestion for dealing with this? Can file\_column store pictures in a directory outside of RAILS\_ROOT without much trouble (didnt seem like the helpers would adapt to this situation), or maybe I should just use a symlink. Thanks Adam. ---
**Author:** ![aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aroth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 7:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-and-habtm/50964/4 "2005-12-23T07:59:16Z")
On 12/22/05, aroth [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > public/picture/user/1/filename.jpg ## user pic > > – > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). > > * * * > > Rails mailing list > removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid > [http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails](http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails) class Picture file\_column :image, :store\_dir =\> :my\_method def my\_method if products.length \> o “picture/user” elsif #… end #… – Kyle M. Chief Technologist E Factor Media // FN Interactive removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid 1-866-263-3261 ---
**Author:** ![aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aroth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-and-habtm/50964/5 "2005-12-24T02:25:53Z")
On 12/23/05, aroth [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > picture/user/PICTURE\_ID/filename > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). > > * * * > > Rails mailing list > removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid > [http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails](http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails) I would imagine that to require a source patch. I would suspect that you’re putting too much thought into this. I’d just use it as it works, or, if you’re converting a legacy structure, write a simple ruby script to restructure your files. – Kyle M. Chief Technologist E Factor Media // FN Interactive removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid 1-866-263-3261 ---
**Author:** ![aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aroth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-and-habtm/50964/6 "2005-12-26T02:38:07Z")
On 12/25/05, aroth [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Second, I’m using Switchtower to manage deployment. My pictures are > stored in /pics, but I don’t want pictures in svn. Each new release is > deployed with an empty /pics dir, and I have to copy over the pictures > manually. Do you have a suggestion for dealing with this? Can > file\_column store pictures in a directory outside of RAILS\_ROOT without > much trouble (didnt seem like the helpers would adapt to this > situation), or maybe I should just use a symlink. symlink to the shared directory. switchtower can do the linking for you. ---
**Author:** ![aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aroth](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aroth)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-column-and-habtm/50964/7 "2006-06-16T16:40:38Z")
Did you solve the first issue? Kind regards Mam