Question

I’m using simple_form and i have a select menu with 3 values, which get printed to the index. I want to know the correct and best way to get the value that the users sets, and then do a count of how many of the 3 different choices there currently are.

I’m new to ruby so this is a big learning curve and any help will be appreciated.

In my _form.html.erb

<%= f.input :menu, :as => :select, :collection => [ "Chocolate", "Cake", "Custard"] %>

My Index.html.erb

<td><%= reply.menu %></td>

db

class CreateReplies < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def change
    create_table :replies do |t|
      t.string :name
      t.integer :menu
      t.boolean :rsvp, :default => false

      t.timestamps
    end
  end
end

Answer 1

1. You’re looking to do a many-to-one relationship (many replies to one menu)
2. Change your migration to be t.integer :menu_id
3. Create another model called Menu with and id and i.e. name.

So roll with something like the following:

#  == Schema Information
#
#  Table name: replies
#
#  id          :integer          not null, primary key
#  menu_id     :integer
#  ...
#  created_at  :datetime         not null
#  updated_at  :datetime         not null


class Reply < ActiveRecord::Base
  attr_accessible :menu_id, etc.
  belongs_to :menu, :inverse_of => :replies # belongs_to because has the FK 
 ...
end

#  == Schema Information
#  
#  Table name: menus
#
#  id         :integer          not null, primary key
#  name       :string(255)
#  created_at :datetime         not null
#  updated_at :datetime         not null


class Menu < ActiveRecord::Base
  attr_accessible :name
  has_many :replies, :inverse_of => :menu, :dependent => :nullify # the FK is in the reply
  accepts_nested_attributes_for :replies
end

And then since you’re using SimpleForm:

 <%= f.association :menu, :collection => Menu.all, :prompt => "- Select -"%>

Then everything else is for the most part automated for you (i.e. when you create/update a reply it’ll grab the posted menu_id and assign it accordingly.

If I were you, I’d dig into http://ruby.railstutorial.org/. It’s an excellent resource.

Update: forgot about your view display (if you’re trying to display the name of the menu you selected – if you’re trying to display an entire menu, that’s a whole other different scenario):

<td><%= @reply.menu.name %></td>