# What's a good way to specify set of records to be created across multiple models (with associations) **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [January 12, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/whats-a-good-way-to-specify-set-of-records-to-be-created-across-multiple-models-with-associations/157482 "2009-01-12T07:11:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![greg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/71c47a/32.png) [@greg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/greg)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/whats-a-good-way-to-specify-set-of-records-to-be-created-across-multiple-models-with-associations/157482/1 "2009-01-12T07:11:12Z")
Hi, I need to be able to specify for my application, via a configuration approach (i.e. power user, no nice UI required), a way to automate creation of a pre-determine set of database records across a few models. So I’ll try to explain as best I can: - Assume I have a model hierarchy something like the following (basically allocating a back account item out): - model “Bank Account Item” can have multiple - model "Allocation"s and within each allocation it defines .amount (for the allocation, total for each allocation needs to equal bank\_account) .person\_id (link to existing person in the Person table/model) .category\_id (link to existing category in the Category table/model) - There will be an automation routine that will say, “if you see a bank account item with a description of XYZ, then automatically set up it’s allocation to People & Categories” (i.e. predefined). This could be as simple as an “Automation” model that has a regex that would be used, and then a string to store the association(s) that should be created (e.g. XML, or YAML, or Ruby code, i.e. the reason for the question). - An example for what this string might represent for say an automation record where the regex was “Telephone Bill” might be: --------example--------- - Association 1 - amount = 30% (calculates absolute amount on the fly) - person\_id = 1 \ - category\_id = 23 - Association 2 - amount = 70% (calculates absolute amount on the fly) - person\_id = 1 \ - category\_id = 3 --------example--------- Any suggestions re (a) a nice generic way to do this and (b) what format may be the best (e.g. XML, Ruby code, YAML). Some ideas that come to mind: [1] Ruby code that takes input (not great) [2] Ruby code that describes “example” above in the form of Array or Hashes. Maybe best? [3] XML - readable, but a little more code to import? [4] YAML - not that readable, but easy to import [4] Other? thanks – Greg [http://blog.gregnet.org/](http://blog.gregnet.org/) ---
**Author:** ![greg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/71c47a/32.png) [@greg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/greg)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/whats-a-good-way-to-specify-set-of-records-to-be-created-across-multiple-models-with-associations/157482/2 "2009-01-12T12:04:31Z")
On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 5:10 PM, Greg H. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I need to be able to specify for my application, via a configuration > approach (i.e. power user, no nice UI required), a way to automate creation > of a pre-determine set of database records across a few models. So I’ll > try to explain as best I can: Can’t remember the library names… but you want to look for a “factory” of some sort. – > **[Mikel Lindsaar](https://lindsaar.net/)** > > Internet Home for Mikel Lindsaar Rails, RSpec and Life blog… ---
**Author:** ![greg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/71c47a/32.png) [@greg](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/greg)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/whats-a-good-way-to-specify-set-of-records-to-be-created-across-multiple-models-with-associations/157482/3 "2009-01-12T21:05:20Z")
I’m more interested in how the routine (albeit in a Factory or not works) actually - e.g. best way of storing the info: xml, ruby code, yaml?? On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 9:04 PM, Mikel L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > “factory” of some sort. > > – > [http://lindsaar.net/](http://lindsaar.net/) > Rails, RSpec and Life blog… > > > – Greg [http://blog.gregnet.org/](http://blog.gregnet.org/)