Question

I am using a code where for updating fields i have to use different methods based on some condition. code snippet looks like

   @issue = Issue.find(some_id) # Issue is ActiveRecord class

  if 'class fields' # some condition checking
    @issue.send("status").name = data     # status is a class and name is its attribute
    @issue.save
  else
    @issue.update_attribute("subject", data) # subject is a string
  end

i am looking for a solution where i can use update_attribute to update class attributes
for e.g.

@issue.update_attribute(@issue.:status.name, data) # invalid 

may be i am doing some thing silly
but i want to know a better approach

thnx.

Answer 1

You need use the accepts_nested_attributes_for ( system.

In your Issue class your need define your status association like nested_attributes

class Issue < AR
  has_one :status
  accepts_nested_attributes_for :status
end

After you can update your status by

@issue.update_attribute({:status_attributes => {'name' => 'data'}})

PS : You can’t do it on belongs_to associations.