# Link\_to popup divorced from controller? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [November 15, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/link-to-popup-divorced-from-controller/120303 "2007-11-15T17:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yachtman)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/link-to-popup-divorced-from-controller/120303/1 "2007-11-15T17:29:07Z")
Here’s my case: Using a link\_to popup window to show a related help file of an element on a page. The problem: Window pops up perfectly, but refuses to carryover @instance variables in the controller that I referenced in the link\_to command. The tests: - I have the right controller/class, because it renders a specific template, which is what it does. - I have the right template/view, because it reflects all of the html and content–other than the variables. - I instantiated @time = Time.now in the controller-class, but @time in the view does not show up. If I simply call \<%= Time.now %\> – it works, but this does explain why the controller is not sending the variables. I am stumped??? Any insightful soul with an answer??? ---
**Author:** ![yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yachtman)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/link-to-popup-divorced-from-controller/120303/2 "2007-11-15T17:54:23Z")
On 15 Nov 2007, at 16:28, yachtman wrote: > The tests: > > - I have the right controller/class, because it renders a specific > template, which is what it does. > - I have the right template/view, because it reflects all of the html > and content–other than the variables. > - I instantiated @time = Time.now in the controller-class, but @time > in the view does not show up. If I simply call \<%= Time.now %\> – it > works, but this does explain why the controller is not sending the > variables. The fact that it’s a popup changes nothing: as far as rails is concerned these are 2 completetly separate requests. Fred ---
**Author:** ![yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yachtman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/link-to-popup-divorced-from-controller/120303/3 "2007-11-16T04:51:35Z")
Is it possible the javascript negates the variables? Here is my code… ### First the link in profile.rhtml \<%= link\_to “?”, { :action =\> “funny”}, :popup =\> [‘Help’, ‘height=600px, width=600px’] %\> ### user\_controller.rb def funny render :layout =\> false @helpy = Help.find(:first) end ### funny.rhtml \<%= @helpy.content %\> should be here... ### Here is the error from the popup windo: NoMethodError in User#funny Showing app/views/user/funny.rhtml where line #2 raised: You have a nil object when you didn’t expect it! The error occurred while evaluating nil.content Extracted source (around line #2): 1: 2: \<%= @helpy.content %\> should be here… 3: 4: 5: RAILS\_ROOT: /Users/carsoncole/Desktop/gliptred/config/… Application Trace | Framework Trace | Full Trace #{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/user/funny.rhtml:2:in `_run_rhtml_47app47views47user47funny46rhtml' #{RAILS_ROOT}/app/controllers/user_controller.rb:57:in `funny’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/bin/mongrel\_rails:16:in `load’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/bin/mongrel\_rails:16 /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_view/ base.rb:326:in `send' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_view/ base.rb:326:in `compile\_and\_render\_template’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_view/ base.rb:301:in `render_template' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_view/ base.rb:260:in `render\_file’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ base.rb:806:in `render_file' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ base.rb:777:in `render\_with\_no\_layout’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ layout.rb:256:in `render_without_benchmark' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ benchmarking.rb:50:in `render’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ benchmarking.rb:50:in `render’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ base.rb:1095:in `send' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ base.rb:1095:in `perform\_action\_without\_filters’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ filters.rb:632:in `call_filter' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ filters.rb:638:in `call\_filter’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ filters.rb:438:in `call' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ filters.rb:637:in `call\_filter’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ filters.rb:634:in `call_filter' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ filters.rb:619:in `perform\_action\_without\_benchmark’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ benchmarking.rb:66:in `perform_action_without_rescue' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ benchmarking.rb:66:in `perform_action_without_rescue' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ rescue.rb:83:in `perform\_action’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ base.rb:430:in `send' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ base.rb:430:in `process\_without\_filters’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ filters.rb:624:in `process_without_session_management_support' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ session_management.rb:114:in `process’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ base.rb:330:in `process' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.3/lib/dispatcher.rb:41:in `dispatch’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/rails.rb: 78:in `process' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/rails.rb: 76:in `synchronize’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/rails.rb: 76:in `process' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:618:in `process\_client’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:617:in `each' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:617:in `process\_client’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in `run' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in `initialize’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in `new' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in `run’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:720:in `initialize' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:720:in `new’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:720:in `run' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/ configurator.rb:271:in `run’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/ configurator.rb:270:in `each' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/ configurator.rb:270:in `run’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/bin/mongrel\_rails:127:in `run' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/command.rb: 211:in `run’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/bin/mongrel\_rails:243 #{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/user/funny.rhtml:2:in `_run_rhtml_47app47views47user47funny46rhtml' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_view/ base.rb:326:in `send’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_view/ base.rb:326:in `compile_and_render_template' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_view/ base.rb:301:in `render\_template’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_view/ base.rb:260:in `render_file' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ base.rb:806:in `render\_file’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ base.rb:777:in `render_with_no_layout' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ layout.rb:256:in `render\_without\_benchmark’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ benchmarking.rb:50:in `render' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ benchmarking.rb:50:in `render' #{RAILS_ROOT}/app/controllers/user_controller.rb:57:in `funny’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ base.rb:1095:in `send' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ base.rb:1095:in `perform\_action\_without\_filters’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ filters.rb:632:in `call_filter' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ filters.rb:638:in `call\_filter’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ filters.rb:438:in `call' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ filters.rb:637:in `call\_filter’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ filters.rb:634:in `call_filter' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ filters.rb:619:in `perform\_action\_without\_benchmark’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ benchmarking.rb:66:in `perform_action_without_rescue' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/1.8/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ benchmarking.rb:66:in `perform_action_without_rescue' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ rescue.rb:83:in `perform\_action’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ base.rb:430:in `send' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ base.rb:430:in `process\_without\_filters’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ filters.rb:624:in `process_without_session_management_support' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ session_management.rb:114:in `process’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ base.rb:330:in `process' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/rails-1.2.3/lib/dispatcher.rb:41:in `dispatch’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/rails.rb: 78:in `process' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/rails.rb: 76:in `synchronize’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/rails.rb: 76:in `process' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:618:in `process\_client’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:617:in `each' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:617:in `process\_client’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in `run' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in `initialize’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in `new' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in `run’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:720:in `initialize' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:720:in `new’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:720:in `run' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/ configurator.rb:271:in `run’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/ configurator.rb:270:in `each' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/ configurator.rb:270:in `run’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/bin/mongrel\_rails:127:in `run' /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/command.rb: 211:in `run’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/bin/mongrel\_rails:243 /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/bin/mongrel\_rails:16:in `load’ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ powerpc/bin/mongrel\_rails:16 On Nov 16, 12:52 am, Frederick C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yachtman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/link-to-popup-divorced-from-controller/120303/4 "2007-11-16T04:59:48Z")
And if I replace the ``` @helpy = Help.find(:first) [in the controller and the following ``` from the view] @helpy.content which might be a database problem, with simply @time = Time.now …and … @time The popup generates fine with no errors, but there is no output for the variable–its blank! ---
**Author:** ![yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yachtman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/link-to-popup-divorced-from-controller/120303/5 "2007-11-16T04:59:13Z")
Not at all. Javascript runs on the client and the client never sees ruby variables. You need to set @helpy before you render the template: def funny @helpy = Help.find(:first) render :layout =\> false end -Bill yachtman wrote: > def funny > NoMethodError in User#funny > 3: > powerpc/bin/mongrel\_rails:16:in `load' powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_view/ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ filters.rb:638:in`call\_filter’ > powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ > powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ > /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ > 78:in `process' powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:617:in /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/`new’ > powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/ > #{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/user/funny.rhtml:2:in > /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ > layout.rb:256:in `render_without_benchmark' powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ filters.rb:619:in`perform\_action\_without\_benchmark’ > rescue.rb:83:in `perform_action' powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_controller/ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/`each’ > powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:736:in > /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ > configurator.rb:270:in `run’ > /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ > > > > Window pops up perfectly, but refuses to carryover @instance variables > > > variables. > > > > The fact that it’s apopupchanges nothing: as far as rails is > > concerned these are 2 completetly separate requests. > > > > Fred – Sincerely, William P. ---
**Author:** ![yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yachtman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/link-to-popup-divorced-from-controller/120303/6 "2007-11-16T05:16:10Z")
🙂 No problem. yachtman wrote: > > Not at all. Javascript runs on the client and the client never sees ruby > > > > > def funny > > > NoMethodError in User#funny > > > 3: > > > powerpc/bin/mongrel\_rails:16:in `load' powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action_view/ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ filters.rb:638:in`call\_filter’ > > > powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ > > > powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/actionpack-1.13.3/lib/action\_controller/ > > > /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ > > > 78:in `process' powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel.rb:617:in /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/`new’ > > > powerpc/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.0.1/lib/mongrel/ > > > #{RAILS\_ROOT}/app/views/user/funny.rhtml:2:in > > > /Applications/Locomotive2/Bundles/standardRailsMar2007.locobundle/ > > > > … > > > > read more \>\> – Sincerely, William P. ---
**Author:** ![yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@yachtman](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yachtman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2007, 5:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/link-to-popup-divorced-from-controller/120303/7 "2007-11-16T05:08:34Z")
Bill, Thanks a kazillion! Your help is most appreciated. Totally makes sense–can’t believe that I missed the logic. Sometimes (and usually most of the time), it’s staring right at you. Finally back to some productive work.