# Help creating and using database **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [December 22, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183 "2008-12-22T10:16:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/captaffy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183/1 "2008-12-22T10:16:12Z")
I have this problem. I have a Job table in my db, and each job has many steps (table Step). Is not possible to know how many steps a job has until it is created. So when I create a new job I have a problem: I can not have a step\_id in my Job table, because it can be one step or more. What can I do? ---
**Author:** ![captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/captaffy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 10:21am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183/2 "2008-12-22T10:21:33Z")
On Dec 22, 9:16 am, John S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I have this problem. > I have a Job table in my db, and each job has many steps (table Step). > Is not possible to know how many steps a job has until it is created. So > when I create a new job I have a problem: I can not have a step\_id in my > Job table, because it can be one step or more. > What can I do? If jobs has\_many :steps then the jobs table doesn’t have a step\_id at all: steps have a job\_id column. Fred ---
**Author:** ![captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/captaffy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 10:29am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183/3 "2008-12-22T10:29:07Z")
Thanks, I know. If I can create a job first I have no problem, but I can’t do that. I want to be able to create a job and, at the same time, create as many steps as I want. I would use AJAX in order to create new step fields, but if I have not created a job I can have any relation between a step and a job. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/captaffy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183/4 "2008-12-22T11:44:46Z")
HAii… sorry my English is very bad I don’t what you want… but I have idea why do u not use 3 model / 3 table? table job id table join\_job\_step job\_id step\_id table step id this is “has\_many\_and\_belongs\_to” (same), but Don’t use “has\_many\_and\_belongs\_to”. Model: - job has\_many :join\_job\_steps - join\_job\_step belongs\_to :job - step has\_may :join\_job\_steps So, when u create job or step, u don’t need step\_id or job\_id… And if u want make relation, just create join\_job\_step. May be it can help u… Thank you – Wu You Duan(Anton effendi) Senior Rails Developer [www.kiranatama.com](http://www.kiranatama.com) On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 4:29 PM, John S. \< ---
**Author:** ![captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/captaffy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183/5 "2008-12-22T17:09:50Z")
I think what you’re looking for is the build method, something along the lines of @job.steps.build in your controller. Take a look at the complex form railscasts by Ryan B.: > **[\#73 Complex Forms Part 1 - RailsCasts](http://railscasts.com/episodes/73-complex-forms-part-1)** > > Short Ruby on Rails screencasts containing tips, tricks and tutorials. Great for both novice and experienced web developers. (go to parts 2 and 3 after you’re done with part 1). On Dec 22, 5:56 am, John S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/captaffy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183/6 "2008-12-22T11:56:12Z")
Thanks a lot, but I think that does not solve my problem, because I need to create a job to make a relation between the job and it steps. With that, I can create steps without a job, but how can I make relation between these steps and the job. Should I have to take the last steps and make a relation with the job I am creating? I think this is a bas solution. Any other ideas? ---
**Author:** ![captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/captaffy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 11:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183/7 "2008-12-23T11:42:50Z")
sorry to say, but i think what you really need is a guide on data- modeling. if a job has many steps, the job has to be there before you create any steps, as every step belongs to exactly one job. now, you say you have to create a job and its steps at the same time. why don’t you think of a way to solve that? look into your controller, there is always a solution. ---
**Author:** ![captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@captaffy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/captaffy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 8:57am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help-creating-and-using-database/156183/8 "2008-12-23T08:57:57Z")
Harold wrote: > I think what you’re looking for is the build method, something along > the lines of @job.steps.build in your controller. > > Take a look at the complex form railscasts by Ryan B.: > [#73 Complex Forms Part 1 - RailsCasts](http://railscasts.com/episodes/73-complex-forms-part-1) > (go to parts 2 and 3 after you’re done with part 1). > > On Dec 22, 5:56�am, John S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) Thanks a lot. I will check it.