# How to get data using JOINS or include **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [March 31, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-get-data-using-joins-or-include/133379 "2008-03-31T01:51:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jordelver](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9dc877/32.png) [@jordelver](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jordelver)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-get-data-using-joins-or-include/133379/1 "2008-03-31T01:51:22Z")
Hi, I’m having trouble getting the records I need from ActiveRecord. I have a category model which is using acts\_as\_tree. I have two levels of categories currently. So, I have something like this: Main Category 1 |- Sub Category 1 |- Sub Category 2 Main Category 2 |- Sub Category 1 |- Sub Category 2 Products belong to 1 or many of the sub categories. I’m trying to get 3 records from within either of the main categories. So, for example, I want 3 records from “Main Category 1”. I also have many images associated with each product using attachment\_fu. I’ve tried Category.find\_by\_name(“Main Category 1”).products.find(:all, :include =\> :images, :conditions =\> [‘products.id IN (6,7,8)’]) But this doesn’t work because no products actually exist in that category, but they do in its sub categories. I know I can do a JOIN manually, but then I don’t get all the data back as the correct objects, just as extra attributes of the Product model. Any tips or pointers regarding how to do this would be appreciated. ## Thanks, Jordan Jordan E.