How to handle absolute URL that user inputs into a table?

rubyonrails-talk
1

Hi,

I have a User table that has a Website column.

In the form I would have the user type in the URL to their website.

If they type the full-blown address "http://www.example.com" then "link_to @user.website, @user.website" will work out of the box.

However, if they type in "www.example.com" then the above code would display something like: localhost:3000/controller/action... something like that.

How do I make it that no matter what the user type it, link_to would take them to an external site?

Sorry if this sounds like a too basic question.

Thanks.

2

You could check what the user enters and add the http:// if they have not provided it, either on the way into the database or out of it.

Colin

3

Depends on the protocol for the websites. It is difficult to parse all possible protocols. Assuming you are only talking about http, you can do something like

regex = /^(https?:\/\/)/ @user.website = "http://" + @user.website unless regex.match(website)

4

How do I make it that no matter what the user type it, link_to would take them to an external site?

Sorry if this sounds like a too basic question.

Thanks.

do this no matter what URL user enters it will take him to correct page

        regex = /https?:\/\/(.*)/.match(@user.website)         if regex==nil            link_to @user.website,"http://#\{@user.website}", :popup =>"true"         else           link_to @user.website,"#{@user.website}", :popup =>"true"