# Parsing text

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text/146819>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 25, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text/146819 "2008-08-25T21:45:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![drsharp](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@drsharp](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drsharp)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text/146819/1 "2008-08-25T21:45:23Z")

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Hi. I’m using regular scaffolds to allow users to create records, is  
there an easy way to somehow parse the text they enter? eg Separate  
the paragraphs of the text automatically without the user having to type  
in actual html?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![drsharp](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@drsharp](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drsharp)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text/146819/2 "2008-08-25T22:02:33Z")

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Check out redcloth:

[http://whytheluckystiff.net/ruby/redcloth/](http://whytheluckystiff.net/ruby/redcloth/)

It may do more than you want, but it looks pretty easy to use…

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**Author:** ![drsharp](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@drsharp](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drsharp)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text/146819/3 "2008-08-25T22:21:54Z")

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On Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 9:45 PM, Dan S.  
[removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Hi. I’m using regular scaffolds to allow users to create records, is  
> there an easy way to somehow parse the text they enter? eg Separate  
> the paragraphs of the text automatically without the user having to type  
> in actual html?

You can look at markdown (bluecloth and maruku for the parsers),  
textile (redcloth) or  
simply the two helpers auto\_link and simple\_format.

Hope it will help.

–  
Gabriel L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

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**Author:** ![drsharp](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@drsharp](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drsharp)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/parsing-text/146819/4 "2008-08-25T23:43:07Z")

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Thanks, simple\_format was exactly what I was looking for:)