# To\_json failing with column named y **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [April 2, 2008, 8:26am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-json-failing-with-column-named-y/133643 "2008-04-02T08:26:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Roel)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 8:26am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-json-failing-with-column-named-y/133643/1 "2008-04-02T08:26:40Z")
Found this: [http://dev.rubyonrails.org/ticket/9797](http://dev.rubyonrails.org/ticket/9797) However, doesn’t seem to solve my issue. I run this: Foo.find(:first).to\_json(:include =\> { :bar =\> { :only =\> [:x,:y] } } ) or Foo.find(:first).to\_json(:include =\> :bar ) I get: ArgumentError: wrong number of arguments (0 for 1) from /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activerecord-2.0.2/lib/ active\_record/serialization.rb:75:in `y' from /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activerecord-2.0.2/lib/ active_record/serialization.rb:75:in `send’ from /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/activerecord-2.0.2/lib/ active\_record/serialization.rb:75:in `serializable\_record’ … These all run fine without issue: Bar.find(:first).to\_json Foo.find(:first).to\_json(:include =\> { :bar =\> { :only =\> [:x] } } ) Foo.find(:first).to\_json It’s very similar to the defect that was mentioned in the ticket, however, the issue comes up when including the model. Can anyone shed some light? Am I doing something wrong? Thanks, Roel ---
**Author:** ![Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Roel)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 8:55am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-json-failing-with-column-named-y/133643/2 "2008-04-02T08:55:03Z")
I’d suggest you actually want: Foo.find(:first, {:include =\> {:bar =\> {:only =\> [:x, :y]}}).to\_json The :include optional param was in the wrong spot. It belongs inside the parameter list of ActiveRecord::Base.find Julian. Learn Ruby on Rails! CHECK OUT THE FREE VIDS (LIMITED TIME) NEW VIDEO OUT 3rd APRIL [http://sensei.zenunit.com/](http://sensei.zenunit.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Roel)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-json-failing-with-column-named-y/133643/3 "2008-04-02T15:54:31Z")
@Julian: Actually there is an :include option in both the find and #to\_json methods. With find it instructs ARec to construct a join and bring back the associated model(s) in one db cycle. Similarly, in to\_json it instructs ARec to include the associations in the rendered json. You might want to fact-check your ActiveRecord free-for-a- limited-time video… @Roel: I just tried the code below in my domain without problems. Could the difference be that :include must name an association? In my domain, User has\_many :courts, :through=\>:court\_users andy = User.find(:first, :include=\>:courts) andy.to\_json :except=\>[:crypted\_password, :salt], :include=\>{:user\_cash\_adjustment\_account=\>{:only=\>:opening\_balance}} #=\>{ “updated\_at”:“2008/04/01 09:18:44 -0400”, “activated\_at”:null, “deleted\_at”:null, “remember\_token\_expires\_at”:“2008/04/15 13:18:44 -0400”, “activation\_code”:null, “id”:1, “courts”:[{ “jems\_code”:“GVL”},{ “jems\_code”:“SPG”} ], “default\_court\_id”:2, “remember\_token”:“d1956c81b94199ee9ad06b6e82f87e44490ad86f”, “login”:“AndyV”, “state”:“active”, “email”:"…andy…", “created\_at”:“2007/09/05 08:33:49 -0400”, “active”:true} ---
**Author:** ![Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Roel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 10:21am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-json-failing-with-column-named-y/133643/4 "2008-04-03T10:21:11Z")
Right you are! BTW, It’s actually a general “Rails” set of videos, and it’s pretty basic - nothing about JSON in it 😛 You’re right, include must name an association, just like in AR::Base#find Have a look at the bottom part of: > **[ActiveRecord::Serialization](https://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActiveRecord/Serialization.html#M001135)** > > Active Record Serialization. :only is to specify the fields returned. Julian. Learn Ruby on Rails! CHECK OUT THE FREE VIDS (LIMITED TIME) NEW VIDEO (#2) OUT NOW! [http://sensei.zenunit.com/](http://sensei.zenunit.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Roel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-json-failing-with-column-named-y/133643/5 "2008-04-03T16:05:42Z")
Sorry, I thought you were just being very generic… not actually asking about a column specifically named ‘y’. ---
**Author:** ![Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@Roel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Roel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/to-json-failing-with-column-named-y/133643/6 "2008-04-03T02:44:23Z")
Thanks Julian and Andy for the response. Here are my associations: Foo has\_one Bar Bar belongs\_to Foo I am able to use to\_json method if I only specify to include column x from the bar object. If i include column y, that is when I get error. Is there an issue using column named “y”? From the link I provided above, it states this “Add “Model.define\_attribute\_methods” to your rails after\_initialize callback so the “y” accessor is automatically generated.” Where would I add that? To my model? Any help is much appreciated. Roel