Question

How to create different view modes. Like a visitor can choose list or box view.

Answer 1

It depends how much these views are similar, what I would do is to create partials for each view and then in the main view I call the right one depending on the property. Say you have a function in application_helper which_view in your index you can write something like this:

<!-- your index -->
<%= render which_view == :box ? 'index_box' : 'Index_list' %>

I prefer the previous, but if you have few changes you can go for something like:

<% if session[:view_type] == 'box' %>

  <!-- box content -->

<% else %>

  <!-- list content -->

<% end %>

** EDIT **

make the action:

  # application_controller.rb
  def set_view_type # TODO: refactor
    session[:view_type] = params[:view_type]
    redirect_to :back
  end

set your routes:

  # routes.rb
  match '/set_view_type' => 'application#set_view_type', :as => :set_view_type

write your form:

  <!-- _view_type_selection.html.erb -->
  <%= form_tag set_view_type_path do %>

    <%= radio_button_tag :view_type, :box, session[:view_type] == 'box' %>

    <%= radio_button_tag :view_type, :list, session[:view_type] == 'list' %>

    <%= submit_tag 'select' %>

  <% end %>

Not best practice but it works!