Question

Im trying to standardize data stored in my database. In the sense that I want everything stored as strings. Whats the best way to convert all datatypes into strings in rails?

So if I have something like this in my database:

 t.funny = no #(boolean)

if Im converting hundreds of these to strings in a loop, whats the best way to do this?

Thanks

Answer 1

monkey patches accepted? 🙂

here is one:

class Object
  def to_sb
    return 'no' if [FalseClass, NilClass].include?(self.class) 
    return 'yes' if self.class == TrueClass
    self
  end  
end  

v = true
v.to_sb
=> "yes"

v = nil
v.to_sb
=> "no"

v = false
v.to_sb
=> "no"

v = 'blah'
v.to_sb
=> "blah"

now in your model you can use t.funny.to_sb

meant to string boolean

please note that non boolean values will be returned as is

See it in action here