# How to get a \<select\> box to change the url?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-get-a-select-box-to-change-the-url/143147>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [July 15, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-get-a-select-box-to-change-the-url/143147 "2008-07-15T18:18:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sean\_CSHess](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Sean\_CSHess](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Sean_CSHess)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-get-a-select-box-to-change-the-url/143147/1 "2008-07-15T18:18:31Z")

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Hello all,

I have a list of games that I want to filter by # of players and  
category. I want to be able to list either or both parameters and  
have it work. I don’t know how to make the players box  
generate the GET requests I want (see below)

The urls would look like the following. As you can see, right now I  
don’t want to have to specify all the parameters

/games?players=2&category=3  
/games?category=3  
/games?players=2  
/games

The \_filter template includes a box for the # of players, and  
links for the categories. The categories generate the right urls if  
they use the following helper.

def filtered\_games\_path §  
temp = params.dup

```
p.each do |key, value|
  temp[key] = value
end

games_path(temp)

```

end

So, something like this: \<%= link\_to category.name,  
filtered\_games\_path (:category =\> category.id ) %\> would translate to  
either /games?category=N or /games?players=M&category=N, depending on  
whether or not players was already one of the parameters.

But now I need to do the same thing for a select box. I want it to  
make a get request as soon as it is changed – so it’s just a fancy  
link that allows you to change which # you are sending for the players  
variable.

How should I do this? I can do it with javascript, but I want to  
generate the url with rails, so I don’t have to repeat the code that  
merges the parameters.

Thanks, and let me know if that doesn’t make sense 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sean\_CSHess](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Sean\_CSHess](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Sean_CSHess)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-get-a-select-box-to-change-the-url/143147/2 "2008-07-15T20:53:52Z")

</div>

I think the only way you’ll get any reasonably consistency is using  
JavaScript. Select boxes don’t work as hyperlinks because they don’t  
make any sort of request to the server. They do however support  
JavaScript events such as onchange. And, even this is on the verge of  
being obsoleted by observers inside JavaScript files. I believe that  
technique is referred to as “Unobtrusive JavaScript.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sean\_CSHess](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Sean\_CSHess](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Sean_CSHess)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-get-a-select-box-to-change-the-url/143147/3 "2008-07-15T21:20:18Z")

</div>

Thanks for the confirmation. I guess the only way of doing it is  
something  
like the following.  
  
… etc …

Then, I can write a javascript component (with jquery, much like you  
described to replace VALUE with the selected value and submit the url).

$(‘select.link’).change(function () {  
var value = $(this).val();  
var location = $(this).attr(‘href’).replace(/VALUE/, value);  
window.location = location;  
});

It still seems kind of kludgey to have to use a string hook like that.  
Any  
suggestions?

Thanks for your help!  
~sean  
On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 12:52 PM, Robert W. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)