This would probably do what you want.... It would be more fun done ajax calls (no page refresh) but this gives you the starting idea
---Controller class SimpleListController < ApplicationController def index @items = SimpleList.find(:all, :order=>"id") end def create_item unless params[:display_text].empty? @items = SimpleList.create(:display_text=>params[:display_text]) end redirect_to :action=>:index end end
---- View <% for item in @items -%> <%=item.display_text %><br> <% end -%> <% form_tag :action=>:create_item do -%> <%=text_field_tag :display_text %> <%=submit_tag "Add" %> <% end %>