Question

I have one select_tag and multiple button_to buttons on the same page. I’m looking to use the parameters from the select_tag for several of the buttons, is there a non-form way to do this?

The reason I don’t want to use a form is two fold:
1. the number of buttons is dynamic
2. the positioning of the buttons do not follow the form structure (object at the top and submit at the bottom)

-here is one of the create methods that are linked to one of the buttons

def create
  params[:options].each do |x|
    @connector = Connector.find_or_create_by_options_id_and_follow_id(x.id, current_user.follow(@product).id)
    @connector.save
  end
end

I checked and this params[:options] is always nil no matter what is selected by me when I test

<%= select_tag :options, options_for_select(@current_user_options.map {|p| [p.name, p.id] }), {:multiple => true} %>

Answer 1

button_to method actually creates a form which has a submit button, with the form action being the url which you had mentioned in button_to. So when you hit the submit button, obviously the options param will be nil, since the button_to form has no data in it

You can use a form itself, and form does not mandate, having an object at the top and submit button below. Submit button just submits the form irrespective of its position in the form