Question

I’m trying to write an app in rails 3 and I’m having some trouble figuring out the routes and controllers for a test that I want the user to take. The basic requirements for this app are:

1. Users, Tests and Questions are all in separate models.
2. A User has_many Tests. A Test has_many Questions
3. Provide a link on the user_profile page to /test/new to create the test record.
4. Provide a link on /test/new to /test/:id/part1 (where :id is the test_id) so that the user can complete the first part of the test. Questions will be retrieved from the db and presented on this page.
5. Provide a link on /test/:id/part1 to /test/:id/part2 so that the user can complete the second part of the test. Again, questions are retrieved from the db.
6. Provide a link on /test/:id/part2 to submit the test and return to the user’s profile.

I’ve completed the models, which even pass their tests, so I think I have finished parts 1 and 2.

user.rb

Class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_many :tests
end

test.rb

Class Test < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :user
  has_many :questions
end

question.rb

Class Question < ActiveRecrod::Base
  belongs_to :test
end

My issues start when I try to put these models together using routes and controllers.

routes.rb

resources :users

resources :tests do
  member do
    post 'part1'
    post 'part2'
  end
end

users/show.html.erb

<%= link_to "Start The Test", new_test_path %>

tests/new.html.erb

<%= link_to "Part 1", part1_test_path(@test) %>

tests_controler.rb

class TestsController < ApplicationController
  def new
    @test = Test.new(current_user)
  end

  def part1
    # still just a stub
  end
end

I’m getting this error when I click on the link to take Part 1 of the test:

No route matches {:action=>"part1", :controller=>"tests", :id=>#<Test id: nil, taken_at: nil, user_id: nil, created_at: nil, updated_at: nil>}

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

By defining a member of the routes it’s expecting an existent test, ie. one which is saved and has an id.

e.g.

part1_test_path = /test/123/part1

What you need is a collection route.

resources :tests do
  collection do
    post 'part1'
  end
  member do
    post 'part2'
  end
end

e.g.

part1_test_path = /test/part1

edit

Suggested solution:

resources :test, :path_names => { :new => 'part_1', :edit => 'part_2' } *1

def new 
  @test = Test.new

#new view
form_for @test do
  ...

def create
  @test = Test.new params[:test]
  if @test.save
    redirect_to edit_test_path @test

def edit
  @test = Test.find params[:id]

#edit view
form_for @test do

def update
  @test = Test.find params[:id]
  if @test.update_attributes params[:test]
    redirect_to test_path @test 


def show # test results
  @test = Test.find params[:id]
  if @test.incomplete *2
    redirect_to edit_test_path @test

*1 See rails guide on routing. This will give you urls like this

test/part1
test/123/part2

You should put all of your validation in the model; your requirements of test data. Conditional validation will be required, depending on whether it’s a new_record? or not ie if you’re at part 1 or 2.

*2
add a method to your model which checks test completeness.

def incomplete
  self.some_test_field.blank?

Let me know if you don’t understand anything.