Access an Objects attribute as a string with HABTM

[Mernagh]

I have searched many sites for the solution. And maybe there is none
or more likely it is so easy no one mentions it.

The problem is this. I have an class called Event which has a HABTM
relationship with Note.

I can do the following with no problems
e = Event.new
e['name'] = 'test'
e['state'] = 'started'

But I cannot access the notes attribute in the same way
e.notes << Note.find(:all)
e.notes.size #=> 11
e['notes'] #=> nil

Why is it I can access e.name as e['name'] but not e.notes as e
['notes']?

And is there a work around to access notes only knowing the string
name ("notes")?

Will

[Frederick_Cheung]

I have searched many sites for the solution. And maybe there is none
or more likely it is so easy no one mentions it.

The problem is this. I have an class called Event which has a HABTM
relationship with Note.

I can do the following with no problems
e = Event.new
e['name'] = 'test'
e['state'] = 'started'

But I cannot access the notes attribute in the same way
e.notes << Note.find(:all)
e.notes.size #=> 11
e['notes'] #=> nil

Why is it I can access e.name as e['name'] but not e.notes as e
['notes']?

Because name is an attribute (ie backed by some column on your table),
but notes isn't (its an association). The [] and []= methods are
equivalent to read/write_attribute, which as their names suggest are
for playing with attributes.

And is there a work around to access notes only knowing the string
name ("notes")?

Read up on your ruby (in particular the send method)

Fred

[Mernagh]

Thanks Fred.
I had a look at the send method. That is exactly what I needed. Also
thanks for not giving the answer in code since I would probably not
have read up on the send method and fully understood it.

A good explanation of the send method for anyone else that wanders
here is
http://www.softiesonrails.com/2007/8/15/ruby-101-methods-and-messages

and the API is defined here
http://ruby-doc.org/core/classes/Object.html#M000334

Will