# Problem getting started with auto\_complete **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [October 28, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-getting-started-with-auto-complete/178073 "2009-10-28T20:10:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Gee-off)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-getting-started-with-auto-complete/178073/1 "2009-10-28T20:10:37Z")
I’m a n00b with Rails, and I’m trying to implement basic autocomplete according to Agile Web Dev w/Rails 3rd edition (p. 584-586) I’ve installed the auto\_complete plugin, added the statement “auto\_complete\_for :game, :publisher” to my controller (Game is the model, publisher the field I want autocompletion on), and and put the following in my view template: ``` <%= f.label :publisher %>
<%= f.text_field :publisher, :size => 60 %>
\<%= auto\_complete\_field :game\_publisher, :url =\> {:action =\> ‘autocomplete\_publisher’} %\> and as suggested in another group, added: map.resources :games, :collection =\> {:autocomplete\_for\_game\_publisher =\> get} to my routes file I have the stylesheet included and (I think) all of the Javascript libraries required. The 1st error I get is : undefined method `auto\_complete\_for’ for GamesController:Class and when I comment that line out, I get: undefined method `auto\_complete\_field’ for #\ What am I missing? thanks in advance, geoff ---
**Author:** ![Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Gee-off)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-getting-started-with-auto-complete/178073/2 "2009-10-28T20:25:50Z")
That syntax was removed from Rails in 1.2.6 and moved to a plugin. Here is one plugin that can be used > **[GitHub - rails/auto\_complete: NOTICE: official repository moved to...](https://github.com/rails/auto_complete)** > > NOTICE: official repository moved to https://github.com/david-kerins/auto\_complete - GitHub - rails/auto\_complete: NOTICE: official repository moved to https://github.com/david-kerins/auto\_complete ---
**Author:** ![Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Gee-off)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-getting-started-with-auto-complete/178073/3 "2009-10-28T20:43:58Z")
Hi… I’ve been working on a gem recently that allows you to generate scaffolding for auto\_complete behavior, among other things. The idea was to make it easier to get started with using a plugin like auto\_complete. See: [Auto\_complete scaffolding - Pat Shaughnessy](http://patshaughnessy.net/2009/10/1/auto_complete-scaffolding) Based on your error messages, it looks like you may not have installed the auto\_complete plugin properly. You should also be using a macro/ helper called “text\_field\_with\_auto\_complete”, and not “auto\_complete\_field”. Not sure how old your book is. My article has a step-by-step example that hopefully will be helpful… - pat ---
**Author:** ![Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Gee-off)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-getting-started-with-auto-complete/178073/4 "2009-10-29T16:49:09Z")
Just for reference, Agile Web Dev w/ Rails, 3rd Ed, Copyright 2009, P3.0 Printing, July 2009 Page 583 includes: “\<%= auto\_complete\_field :user\_favorite\_language, :url=\>{:action=\>‘autocomplete\_favorite\_language’}, :tokens =\> ‘,’ %\>” The same code appears in the source .tgz for the book (http:// [pragprog.com/titles/rails3/source\_code](http://pragprog.com/titles/rails3/source_code)). There is no mention of this issue in the errata ([http://pragprog.com/](http://pragprog.com/) titles/rails3/errata). The lesson here is: When using gems and plugins always follow the instructions delivered with the code. ---
**Author:** ![Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Gee-off)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-getting-started-with-auto-complete/178073/5 "2009-10-29T17:23:43Z")
Pat, your view\_mapper is very cool - worked like a charm, but even after re-installing the auto\_complete plugin (/vendor/plugins/) and generating the view scaffolding, I’m still getting the undefined method error: undefined method `auto\_complete\_for’ for GamesController:Class in my controller. I’m using Ruby 1.8.6, Rails 2.3.3 According to everyone’s responses and what I’ve found searching for answers, this should work but it doesn’t in my environment… thanks for any input, geoff ---
**Author:** ![Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Gee-off](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Gee-off)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-getting-started-with-auto-complete/178073/6 "2009-10-30T14:40:25Z")
I’m happy to try to help you debug this one… if you want TAR up some/ all of the code and email it to me: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid … however, I expect if I do run your code on my machine it will work no problem. My guess is there’s some environment issue you have. The first thing I would try is to put a “puts” statement in the vendor/ plugins/auto\_complete/init.rb file. The only explanation for “auto\_complete\_for” not being defined is for some reason if the plugin isn’t being loaded when the Rails environment is initialized as your app is started. You should see a messaged displayed in the console/log when init.rb is loaded for your copy of auto\_complete. The second thing I would do is create a brand new, vanilla rails app, install the auto\_complete plugin into it and then create an auto\_complete form and see if it’s works for you. You can follow the step by step instructions in my “auto complete scaffolding” article I linked to above. If it works, then there is some weird code issue in your app; if it doesn’t you have an environment problem on your machine. (not sure what it could be) - pat