# Programmatically Finding Model Default Values

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/programmatically-finding-model-default-values/174378>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 25, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/programmatically-finding-model-default-values/174378 "2009-08-25T22:45:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jeffrey\_LSTaylor](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@Jeffrey\_LSTaylor](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Jeffrey_LSTaylor)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/programmatically-finding-model-default-values/174378/1 "2009-08-25T22:45:59Z")

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Is there a way to find the default values of a model? That tracks  
schema  
changes without requiring code changes?

Thanx,  
Jeffrey

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**Author:** ![Jeffrey\_LSTaylor](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@Jeffrey\_LSTaylor](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Jeffrey_LSTaylor)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/programmatically-finding-model-default-values/174378/2 "2009-08-26T06:33:02Z")

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ModelName.columns  
Each column has an @default

e.g

User.columns.map{|c| c.default}

will give me the defaults for the User model.  
Explore a bit in the console.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jeffrey\_LSTaylor](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@Jeffrey\_LSTaylor](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Jeffrey_LSTaylor)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 8:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/programmatically-finding-model-default-values/174378/3 "2009-08-26T08:59:58Z")

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Stuart,  
Exactly what I need.

Thank you,  
Jeffrey

Quoting S.art Coyle [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid):