# How do I generate dynamic items dynamically? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [July 5, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-generate-dynamic-items-dynamically/171555 "2009-07-05T06:01:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dezrtdude)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-generate-dynamic-items-dynamically/171555/1 "2009-07-05T06:01:11Z")
Hi All, I’m looking for a way to append elements with javascript using javascript. Basically I have two lists of items. One has a list of items with an “ADD” button (using “link\_to\_remote”) and the other has a list of items with a “REMOVE” button (using “link\_to\_remote”). When I click the “ADD” it immediately places the item into the other list. However, I need to be able to have the newly inserted item perform the reverse action for “REMOVE”. I see no way (besides, perhaps creating a partial to render a non- object) to dynamically generate dynamic items of this nature. Any ideas? Best. ---
**Author:** ![dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dezrtdude)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-generate-dynamic-items-dynamically/171555/2 "2009-07-05T19:32:06Z")
Michael Williams wrote: > Hi All, > > I’m looking for a way to append elements with javascript using > javascript. Basically I have two lists of items. One has a list of > items with an “ADD” button (using “link\_to\_remote”) and the other has > a list of items with a “REMOVE” button (using “link\_to\_remote”). Do you really need to do it that way? That will call the server every time a button is clicked. You might want to do the list editing on the client side, then have a Save button that sends the list to the server. > When > I click the “ADD” it immediately places the item into the other list. > However, I need to be able to have the newly inserted item perform the > reverse action for “REMOVE”. So the Add button works, but the Remove button does not? You should be able to do both the same way – after all, the only difference is that Add moves things from list 1 to list 2, while Remove does likewise from list 2 to list 1. > I see no way (besides, perhaps creating a partial to render a non- > object) to dynamically generate dynamic items of this nature. I am not sure what your problem is. Please provide more detail and code. > Any ideas? > > Best. ## Best, Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dezrtdude)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-generate-dynamic-items-dynamically/171555/3 "2009-07-06T01:23:45Z")
> I am not sure what your problem is. Please provide more detail and > code. Basically I have two partials that render. One is the “Available Items” and the other is “Selected Items”. If I select an “Available Item” then it gets added to “Selected Items”. However, if I remove a “Selected Item” I need it to go back to “Available Items”. When they are initially rendered from the VIEW code, both work just fine. However, I need to dynamically insert javascript for each newly added unordered list item to either column. Currently I’m actually using a partial within a partial to manage each new item. It adds a “link\_to\_remote” item for each newly added item. My “issue” is that I can’t figure out how to use the javascript helpers via the “render :update” method in the controller so I have to call a partial in order to insert the appropriate code. I could very likely be asking the wrong question(s) The reason I need it to update immediately is because it is a multi- user setup and if one user has selected an item, I need it to immediately be “taken out” of circulation. In either case, I’d still need dynamic code to, at the very least, move the items back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dezrtdude)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 6:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-i-generate-dynamic-items-dynamically/171555/4 "2009-07-06T06:42:35Z")
Michael Williams wrote: > > I am not sure what your problem is. �Please provide more detail and > > code. > > Basically I have two partials that render. One is the “Available > Items” and the other is “Selected Items”. If I select an “Available > Item” then it gets added to “Selected Items”. However, if I remove a > “Selected Item” I need it to go back to “Available Items”. Yes, I get that. As I said in my first message, if you can do one, you can do the other the same way – so what’s the problem? > When they > are initially rendered from the VIEW code, both work just fine. > However, I need to dynamically insert javascript for each newly added > unordered list item to either column. By “dynamically insert javascript”, do you mean that you think you need to write appropriate JS to the onclick attribute in the HTML tag? If so, that’s incorrect. You just need to add behavior to the appropriate DOM element, and that’s very easy to do. > Currently I’m actually using a > partial within a partial to manage each new item. It adds a > “link\_to\_remote” item for each newly added item. Why two levels of partials? I don’t see how that’s necessary here. > My “issue” is that > I can’t figure out how to use the javascript helpers via the > “render :update” method in the controller so I have to call a partial > in order to insert the appropriate code. As I keep saying on this list, _learn_ the framework instead of kludging your way around it. > I could very likely be > asking the wrong question(s) It seems to me that you should be asking how to use render :update (or similar) properly. Or just don’t use RJS and write the JavaScript directly. > The reason I need it to update immediately is because it is a multi- > user setup and if one user has selected an item, I need it to > immediately be “taken out” of circulation. I understand. I’ve done things like that as well, though not with Rails. > In either case, I’d still > need dynamic code to, at the very least, move the items back and > forth. I do not know if you really know what you mean when you say “dynamic code”. Please explain how you understand that phrase; I think you may be using it in an inaccurate sense. ## Best, Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid