# How to use ActiveRecord plugins outside of Rails framework?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-activerecord-plugins-outside-of-rails-framework/129728>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [February 21, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-activerecord-plugins-outside-of-rails-framework/129728 "2008-02-21T02:37:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/soroe)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-activerecord-plugins-outside-of-rails-framework/129728/1 "2008-02-21T02:37:37Z")

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Hey Guys,

I’ve got an acts\_as\_list association in one of my models. When I  
attempt to load this file outside of Rails… ie: when I invoke my  
script via:

> ruby -S -I $RAILS\_ROOT/app/models myscript.rb

I get the following error message:

/usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activerecord-2.0.2/lib/active\_record/base.rb:1532:in  
`method_missing': undefined method`acts\_as\_list’ for  
#Class:0xb7b06924 (NoMethodError)  
from /home/sonnychee/projects/ngs/app/models/task\_prereq.rb:30

How do I get the acts\_as\_list method defintion loaded up? There are  
also a bunch of other plugins that I require in the vendor/plugins  
folder…

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Sonny.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/soroe)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-activerecord-plugins-outside-of-rails-framework/129728/2 "2008-02-21T06:01:40Z")

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> Any pointers would be appreciated.
> 
> Sonny.

This is what script/runner is for. Or do you want to avoid that?

Stephan

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/soroe)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-activerecord-plugins-outside-of-rails-framework/129728/3 "2008-02-21T14:59:32Z")

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Check the ‘init.rb’ of each of the plugins. Whatever they do  
(typically a require along with ARec.send(:include, somthing)) you  
need to do as well.

On Feb 20, 8:37 pm, Sonny C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/soroe)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-activerecord-plugins-outside-of-rails-framework/129728/4 "2008-02-21T18:53:32Z")

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AndyV wrote:

> Check the ‘init.rb’ of each of the plugins. Whatever they do  
> (typically a require along with ARec.send(:include, somthing)) you  
> need to do as well.

Thanks Andy. Good for future reference.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@soroe](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/soroe)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-activerecord-plugins-outside-of-rails-framework/129728/5 "2008-02-21T18:52:51Z")

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Stephan W. wrote:

> This is what script/runner is for.

Awesome, thanks Stephan. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Sonny.