Question

I have a model with paperclip attachment. When I try to update the model with another image, everything works fine except if the new file has the same name that the old one.

I guess paperclip doesn’t understand that it’s a new file even if the filename is the same.

Do you have a idea to make it work ?

Answer 1

I was not able to find an elegant solution to this, but here is how I got it to work:

Have an attr_accessor boolean flag on your model, and when true call the Paperclip save method to force an update.

class MyModel < ActiveRecord::Base
   # paperclip attachment
   has_attached_file :image, { ... }

   attr_accessor :creative_uploaded

   before_save :upload_new_creative_if_necessary

   private

   def upload_new_creative_if_necessary
     if creative_uploaded
       # force update of the creative
       image.save
     end
   end
end

In my controller, when a post occurs with a file, I set that flag:

@my_instance = MyModel.new( params[:my_model] )
@my_instance.creative_uploaded if params[:my_model][:image]

# ActiveRecord save/handle validations logic as normal