# Getting a user from a model (sort of a noob) (resend sorry) **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [January 10, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-a-user-from-a-model-sort-of-a-noob-resend-sorry/94916 "2006-01-10T15:39:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dukael](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@dukael](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dukael)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-a-user-from-a-model-sort-of-a-noob-resend-sorry/94916/1 "2006-01-10T15:39:30Z")
Sorry for the resend but I am not sure if the first one ever made the list. As mentioned in my previous posts I’m trying to create a dynamic directory for file\_folumn. After finding out that I didn’t have the most recent version I installed the latest trunk and am able to get file\_column to act as it should. However I have been racking my brain on how to implement finding my current user from a model. I have tried everything in my basic/getting better knowledge of Rails and Ruby but have been striking out so far no luck. I am assuming others have done this so just some tips on how to get at this info would be greatly appreciated. The model that I am trying to get at the user info from does have a belongs\_to relationship to my user. Here is my last attempt which comes back with a user can’t be found without an ID=0 error: File.join(“test”,User.find(self.user\_id).companyname,“image”) I have also tried: File.join(“test”,User.find(self.user.id).companyname,“image”) And receive the Called id for nil, which would mistakenly be 4 – if you really wanted the id of nil, use object\_id error message. By my knowledge this makes sense as the object that I am creating has not totally been saved yet but I thought that by calling an Object.new (params[:object]) that the object at least resides in memory at this point (I am doing the object.new at the beginning of my create method in the controller for that model). Am I on the right path here or just running around in circles? Thanks for all the help from everyone on the list without it I would be having a much harder time than I am getting my head wrapped around Ruby and Rails (I am working under a deadline and have been forced to learn at the same time that I am writing a product for release for our company) Andrew ---
**Author:** ![dukael](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@dukael](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dukael)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-a-user-from-a-model-sort-of-a-noob-resend-sorry/94916/2 "2006-01-10T16:07:38Z")
On 1/10/06, Andrew F. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Ruby but have been striking out so far no luck. I am assuming others > File.join(“test”,User.find(self.user.id).companyname,“image”) > Thanks for all the help from everyone on the list without it I would > removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid > [http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails](http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails) If your code is in an instance method, then the method will have available the current record, so you can just reference self.companyname. If your code is in a class method, (def self.methodname), then you should be passing the target user\_id as a parameter. Is your situation covered by one of these two cases? – ---
**Author:** ![dukael](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@dukael](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dukael)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-a-user-from-a-model-sort-of-a-noob-resend-sorry/94916/3 "2006-01-10T16:32:01Z")
my method is in an episode model which is a different model than my user. (two models). file\_column requires this method to be an instance method of the model that the file belongs to, and you can’t pass any parameters to the method to create the directory when calling it from file\_column unfortunately. So companyname is in the users table while the file is being saved and created from the episodes\_controller and episode model which is set as a belongs\_to user relationship. Hope this explains a little better what is going on. Andrew ---
**Author:** ![dukael](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@dukael](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dukael)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-a-user-from-a-model-sort-of-a-noob-resend-sorry/94916/4 "2006-01-10T18:32:56Z")
On 1/10/06, Andrew F. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Andrew > > > directory for file\_folumn. After finding out that I didn’t have the > > > > (params[:object]) that the object at least resides in memory at this > > Andrew > > code is in a class method, (def self.methodname), then you should be > > * * * So, it looks like you’re getting a null reference out of your episodes record on ‘user\_id’. Depending on your database, you need to be checking for same spelling, casing. Breakpointer and Irb are great tools for you at this point. –