# Rails find condition that references an array generates error unless debugger is on **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [July 14, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rails-find-condition-that-references-an-array-generates-error-unless-debugger-is-on/142979 "2008-07-14T05:57:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dacbo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rails-find-condition-that-references-an-array-generates-error-unless-debugger-is-on/142979/1 "2008-07-14T05:57:36Z")
I am getting inconsistent results when trying to pass an array as a find condition (using SQL WHERE…IN…). My code generates a StatementInvalid error unless execution is interrupted by the debugger, in which case the array is passed as expected (when execution resumes after issuing the ‘cont’ command). #application.rb def current\_organisation\_units current\_user.organisation\_unit\_contacts.map {|o| [o.organisation\_unit\_id]} # debugger # When this line is commented out, execution fails; when this line is enabled, execution succeeds. end #people\_controller.rb def index @people = Person.find(:all, :conditions =\> [“clients.organisation\_unit\_id IN (?)”, current\_organisation\_units], :include =\> :clients) end The error (note the DBMS is Postgres): ActiveRecord::StatementInvalid (PGError: ERROR: invalid input syntax for integer: "— - 1 The SQL that is generated: …WHERE (clients.organisation\_unit\_id IN (E’— - 1 ') With the debugger line in application.rb enabled, the following SQL is generated: …WHERE (clients.organisation\_unit\_id IN (1)) This works as expected. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dacbo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 7:39am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rails-find-condition-that-references-an-array-generates-error-unless-debugger-is-on/142979/2 "2008-07-14T07:39:09Z")
> def index > @people = Person.find(:all, :conditions =\> > [“clients.organisation\_unit\_id IN (?)”, > current\_organisation\_units], :include =\> :clients) > end > > The error (note the DBMS is Postgres): > ActiveRecord::StatementInvalid (PGError: ERROR: invalid input syntax > for integer: "— > > - 1 the error above want say that current\_organisation\_units is saved in YAML version, current\_organisation\_units is array if it is saved in DATABASE it will be YAML version like "— 1 " but if it is parameter array, it will be string “1”, the matter now you should convert current\_organisation\_units to array back. try using: YAML.load(current\_organisation\_units) I dont know “current\_organisation\_units” come from. is it parameter or from table. so i only argue like above. I am not sure that if your array contains many element, your conditions in .find will work. just come back if you get error. I hope my opinion can help you. Reinhart blog : [http://teapoci.blogpsot.com](http://teapoci.blogpsot.com) YahooMessenger: sxapril ---
**Author:** ![dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dacbo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rails-find-condition-that-references-an-array-generates-error-unless-debugger-is-on/142979/3 "2008-07-16T04:31:05Z")
Thanks for you reply. Current\_organisation\_units is a method (not from a table) that uses current\_user (from the restful\_authentication plugin). My main issue is that the behaviour is correct if I interrupt execution with the debugger, but incorrect without the debugger. Although it would be interesting to find out what the debugger does that causes this difference, I’m mostly concerned with getting my code working without the debugger, of course. On Jul 14, 5:39 pm, Rails T. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dacbo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rails-find-condition-that-references-an-array-generates-error-unless-debugger-is-on/142979/4 "2008-07-16T10:16:48Z")
On 16 Jul 2008, at 03:30, Chris B. wrote: > Thanks for you reply. Current\_organisation\_units is a method (not from > a table) that uses current\_user (from the restful\_authentication > plugin). My main issue is that the behaviour is correct if I interrupt > execution with the debugger, but incorrect without the debugger. > Although it would be interesting to find out what the debugger does > that causes this difference, I’m mostly concerned with getting my code > working without the debugger, of course. well having debugger on the last line of a function will change the return value of the function (since a functions return value is the value of the last statement). Why it changes it in any particular way is anyone’s guess But your problem here is current\_user.organisation\_unit\_contacts.map {|o| [o.organisation\_unit\_id]} This will return something like [[1], [23], [485]] rather than [1,23,485] Fred ---
**Author:** ![dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@dacbo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dacbo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rails-find-condition-that-references-an-array-generates-error-unless-debugger-is-on/142979/5 "2008-07-22T23:51:00Z")
Whoops. Thanks for spotting this for me, Fred. It’s working now that I’ve changed that line to: current\_user.organisation\_unit\_contacts.map {|o| o.organisation\_unit\_id} On Jul 16, 8:15 pm, Frederick C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)