# Module with a class? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [November 13, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/module-with-a-class/178936 "2009-11-13T19:48:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/burrowsm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/module-with-a-class/178936/1 "2009-11-13T19:48:08Z")
I have a file that has a class called “Core” that defines tons of generic methods which populate tons of @instance variables and has methods to talk to another machine over tcp, etc… I have other files, such as hello.rb which has a “Hello” class and world.rb which has a “World” class. I require these files at the top of the Core classes file. The point is I have a 4th ruby script file that requires the “Core” file, and then makes an object of that Core class, called core. Now the user will invoke Core methods as normal from this outside file, such as core.connect\_to\_widget or core.disconnect\_from\_widget It also creates general variables, populates them, opens up a tcp socket talks to another machine, gets info populates instance variables…etc. Now the user has decided, in the 4th Ruby script file, that he now needs a Hello object, so calls core.add\_hello\_widget inwhich the core method creates the hello object, @hello = Hello.new. This hello object has methods which it specifically uses from the hello class, however it needs to call some methods from the Core file and have access to its attr\_accessor instance variables. Since the core object originally created this hello object, I want the 4th Ruby script file to be able to call a method such as core.hello.\ where this method might call a method from within the core class. I keep getting errors about accessing these variables and methods in the core file. I have tried making a module for the hello file, and tried including a class called hello inside the module hello. And then in the core class i included this module. \*\*\*When a core method creates the hello class as some later point I WANT it to know hey here is this module which has defined this class hello, I will make a hello object, and since core is creating this hello object, go ahead and have access to the variables and methods inside core. Is this possible??? Seems like module can’t have a class? I may need to reexplain it, but basically want classes in different files, but want the other classes to have access to 1 core files’ objects instance variables and methods, since this core object will be creating the other objects of the other classes in the other files… Thanks -Matt ---
**Author:** ![burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/burrowsm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/module-with-a-class/178936/2 "2009-11-13T21:31:05Z")
On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 10:48 AM, Matt B. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I may need to reexplain it, but basically want classes in different > files, but want the other classes to have access to 1 core files’ > objects instance variables and methods, since this core object will be > creating the other objects of the other classes in the other files… Some example code would help a lot. File boudaries notwithstanding it sounds like you have something like: class Hello def say puts “Hello” end end class Core def initialize @hello=nil end attr\_reader :hello def add\_hello\_widget @hello= Hello.new end end core = Core.new core.add\_hello\_widget core.hello.say #=\> “Hello” Something like that? If not, what’s missing? Judson ---
**Author:** ![burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/burrowsm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/module-with-a-class/178936/3 "2009-11-13T23:02:58Z")
On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 9:30 PM, Judson L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Something like that? If not, what’s missing? If I understood correctly, he wants objects of class Hello to call methods on the instance of Core which created them. Something like (untested): class Hello def initialize core @core = core end def say puts “hello: #{@core.msg}” end end class Core def initialize msg @msg = msg @hello=nil end attr\_reader :hello, :msg def add\_hello\_widget @hello= Hello.new self # pass the instance of core to the hello instance end end core = Core.new “i’m core” core.add\_hello\_widget core.hello.say #=\> “hello: i’m core” Hope this helps, Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/burrowsm)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/module-with-a-class/178936/4 "2009-11-14T00:14:59Z")
On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 12:02 AM, Matt B. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I think Jesus’ response is what I needed, I have not tested it yet… > but I am excited to try this on Monday!!! However, Now how would this > work if both classes are in different files??? I think this is what I > need if they were in same file, so can I just require the Hello file at > the top of core, no module stuff needed if want them in separate > files?!?! Yes, you can have class Hello in a different file if you want. In that file you don’t need to require anything. In the file that contains the Core class you would need to require the file that contains the Hello class, though, since you are using that constant in the Core class. Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/burrowsm)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/module-with-a-class/178936/5 "2009-11-14T00:02:35Z")
> If I understood correctly, he wants objects of class Hello to call > methods on the instance of Core which created them. Something like > (untested): > > class Hello > def initialize core > @core = core > end > def say > puts “hello: #{@core.msg}” > end > end > > class Core > def initialize msg > @msg = msg > @hello=nil > end > attr\_reader :hello, :msg > > def add\_hello\_widget > @hello= Hello.new self # pass the instance of core to the hello > instance > end > end > > core = Core.new “i’m core” > core.add\_hello\_widget > core.hello.say #=\> “hello: i’m core” > > Hope this helps, > > Jesus. Judson’s response would have been correct if the say method in hello would have called a core method from the instance of core object that create the hello object… I think Jesus’ response is what I needed, I have not tested it yet… but I am excited to try this on Monday!!! However, Now how would this work if both classes are in different files??? I think this is what I need if they were in same file, so can I just require the Hello file at the top of core, no module stuff needed if want them in separate files?!?! Thanks again Jesus Matt ---
**Author:** ![burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@burrowsm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/burrowsm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/module-with-a-class/178936/6 "2009-11-19T01:10:04Z")
Worked perfectly, thanks again.