# Isn't flash supposed to errr flash?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/isnt-flash-supposed-to-errr-flash/52458>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [December 6, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/isnt-flash-supposed-to-errr-flash/52458 "2005-12-06T00:52:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![craigtmackenzie](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@craigtmackenzie](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/craigtmackenzie)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/isnt-flash-supposed-to-errr-flash/52458/1 "2005-12-06T00:52:51Z")

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Just started going through the rails in four days tutorial (after major  
set-up / install issues…) and it’s telling me about this flash feature,  
which lets you “flash” a message to the user which then fades away (have  
definately seen this on 37 sigs products) only thing is, mine ain’t  
flashing… they just stay there… i’m guessing the flash come from the  
effects / prototype librarys right? do i have to include them in my  
layout.rhtml or do i have to do something else? just curious is all…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![craigtmackenzie](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@craigtmackenzie](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/craigtmackenzie)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/isnt-flash-supposed-to-errr-flash/52458/2 "2005-12-06T01:31:16Z")

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The flash feature is used for passing short-lived data between two  
action  
calls. What you’re describing is the fade effect javascript in the  
included  
effects.js file.

flash method:  
[http://api.rubyonrails.com/classes/ActionController/Flash.html#M000113](http://api.rubyonrails.com/classes/ActionController/Flash.html#M000113)  
Fade effect: [http://wiki.script.aculo.us/scriptaculous/show/Effect.Fade](http://wiki.script.aculo.us/scriptaculous/show/Effect.Fade)

“craigtmackenzie” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)  
wrote in message news:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![craigtmackenzie](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@craigtmackenzie](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/craigtmackenzie)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 5:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/isnt-flash-supposed-to-errr-flash/52458/3 "2005-12-06T05:59:00Z")

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The flash stays in the session until the next request. If you set flash  
and  
you do not redirect\_to, you will see it stay. In this case you should  
use

flash.now[:message]

Kent.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![craigtmackenzie](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@craigtmackenzie](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/craigtmackenzie)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 9:53am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/isnt-flash-supposed-to-errr-flash/52458/4 "2005-12-06T09:53:04Z")

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oh ok i think i get it, so flash is like a way of sendng messages  
between “states” like an edit then return to list ???

How would i ajax-ify this behaviour then, or is that a ruby on rails no  
no (i’m still fairly new to ror)