Question

I have a bit of code that formats an editing page depending on how many values a question has.

  <% ([e-mail]_count.to_i).each do |qvalue| %>
    <% case qvalue
         when 1
          answer_value = @answer.value1
        when 2
          answer_value = @answer.value2
        when 3
          answer_value = @answer.value3
        when 4
          answer_value = @answer.value4
        when 5
          answer_value = @answer.value5
        end %>
       <label for="answer[value<%=qvalue%>]" class="fieldLabel" >Value<%=qvalue%></label>
      <input type="text" id="answer[value<%=qvalue%>]" name="answer[value<%=qvalue%>]" 
        value="<%=answer_value%>" 
      />
   <% end %>

That looks very messy and not extensible. How can I replace the case statement with something that does not require me have a case for each value1..n class variable?

Answer 1

I have success with the old stand by, dynamic code, ie: the eval.

<% answer_value = eval( '@answer.value' + qvalue.to_s ) %>

or more correctly, as pointed out by Abe

<% answer_value = @answer.send( 'value'+qvalue.to_s) %>

for some reason unknown, this would not work.

<% answer_value = @answer.send( 'value#{qvalue}' ) %>