Updating select list

Rails
1

I am trying to edit or update a select list and expect the choices
previously made (stored in model) to be highlighted when the edit form
is
brought up.
Not working though and wonder what I need to do to correct this -

The select list form element looks like this:

@categories = Category.find(:all, :order => “name”)
td>
<%= options_from_collection_for_select @categories, :id, :name
%>

In the controller I’ve added this line
@canindustry = Canindustry.find(:all,:conditions => [“candidate_id = ?”,
@candidate_id])

I was thinking perhaps I could add to the
options_from_collections_for_select a :selected => ‘@canindustry’.
However
that didn’t work.
Any suggestions ?

TIA
Stuart

2

Maybe I didn’t do a good job of explaining below.
I have a multiple choice select list in my edit form. When the form
comes
up I need it to highlight all the choices previously selected.
Just not sure how to go about it.

TIA
Stuart

On 10/24/06, Dark A. [email protected] wrote:

<%= options_from_collection_for_select @categories, :id, :name %>
TIA
Stuart

Dark ambient - Wikipedia

–

3

Stuart Fellowes wrote:

The select list form element looks like this:

@categories = Category.find(:all, :order => “name”)
td>
<%= options_from_collection_for_select @categories, :id, :name
%>

In the controller I’ve added this line
@canindustry = Canindustry.find(:all,:conditions => [“candidate_id = ?”,
@candidate_id])

I was thinking perhaps I could add to the
options_from_collections_for_select a :selected => ‘@canindustry’.
However
that didn’t work.
Any suggestions ?

Okay, according to the documentation:
“Selected may also be an array of values to be selected when using a
multiple select.”

So it looks like you need to pass it an array of values (i.e. strings).
I haven’t tried this, but I’m guessing it’s failing because you’re
creating an array of entire Canindustry objects and passing that. You
need to get just the names.

See if this works:

Controller:
@canindustry_options = Canindustry.find(:all,:conditions =>
[“candidate_id = ?”, @candidate_id]).map {|c| c.name}

View:
<%= options_from_collection_for_select @categories, ‘id’, ‘name’,
@canindustry_options %>

… actually, wait, what the hell?

Why are you building your options list from a query on Category, but
building your selected options from a query on Canindustry? Your
selected options should (obviously) be a subset of all options. How are
you storing your selected options? I don’t know your models, of course,
but I think your currently selected categories aren’t actually correctly
represented by a list of Canindustry objects …

4

Stuart Fellowes wrote:

Hmmm…not entirely sure what you mean here. However maybe I can explain.

Yep, that does make sense now. I didn’t realize from your previous
example exactly what the purpose of the Canindustry model was. Sorry for
assuming, and glad you got the select working!

5

On 10/24/06, Chris G. [email protected] wrote:

Stuart Fellowes wrote:

Hmmm…not entirely sure what you mean here. However maybe I can
explain.

Yep, that does make sense now. I didn’t realize from your previous
example exactly what the purpose of the Canindustry model was. Sorry for
assuming, and glad you got the select working!

Forget sorry, you got me past a huge obstacle. Very much appreciated.
A
simple delete all on update and a loop with the changed selections and
I’m
ready for the next obstacle. :slight_smile:

Stuart

6

On 10/24/06, Chris G. [email protected] wrote:

In the controller I’ve added this line
“Selected may also be an array of values to be selected when using a
multiple select.”

Well I didn’t read that in the documentation (probably glanced over)
but I
assumed that was a possibility.

So it looks like you need to pass it an array of values (i.e. strings).

I haven’t tried this, but I’m guessing it’s failing because you’re
creating an array of entire Canindustry objects and passing that. You
need to get just the names.

Actually as it turns out I needed the id - so this returned the list -
@canindustry_options = Canindustry.find(:all,:conditions =>
[“candidate_id =
?”, @candidate_id]).map {|c| c.category_id}
Just changed name to category_id in controller code.

See if this works:

Why are you building your options list from a query on Category, but
building your selected options from a query on Canindustry? Your
selected options should (obviously) be a subset of all options. How are
you storing your selected options? I don’t know your models, of course,
but I think your currently selected categories aren’t actually correctly
represented by a list of Canindustry objects …

Hmmm…not entirely sure what you mean here. However maybe I can
explain.
Category is model that contains a list of categories. It’s not a table
that
is altered in any way by the user. It’s use within the application is
so
users may select multiple categories from it. I store user input in
tables
as category_id. The table is rails compliant - meaning their are 2
fields,
id | name. When the user needs to see what they selected I can show
them
with - <%= mychoice.category.name %>

Canindustry - is a model / table is where the user selections are
stored.
So the table is something like | id | category_id |.

So I think , perhaps the confusion of what my intentions are is that I
wish
to let the user choose more, less or the same on update / edit.
For example -
User Joe
Canindustry:
(first time creating their selections)
| id | candidate_id | category_id |
1 5 2
2 5 6
3 5 8

(second time: updating their selections)
1 5 2
2 5 5

So on the update, Joe deleted record with id 3
and changed record with id 2 to option 6

This explain it better ?

Stuart