Invoking a method by name

rubyonrails-talk
1

Hello all,

I have a need to invoke methods dynamically by name.

Say I have a method like:

def invoke_method_with_name(method_name)   person = Person.find(params[:id])   method_to_invoke = ~~ some code to find the method from a string containing the method name ~~   person.method_to_invoke end

I do this in Objective C with something like the following:

SEL setWidthHeight; setWidthHeight = @selector(setWidth:height:); or setWidthHeight = NSSelectorFromString(aBuffer);

Where SEL is a special type representing an Objective C method signature, and the @selector directive or NSSelectorFromString(aBuffer) is used to find the method.

I have a feeling that I'm making this more complicated than need be.

Is it possible to do something as simple as:

person.#{method_to_invoke}

2

I have a need to invoke methods dynamically by name.

Say I have a method like:

def invoke_method_with_name(method_name) person = Person.find(params[:id]) method_to_invoke = ~~ some code to find the method from a string containing the method name ~~ person.method_to_invoke end

I do this in Objective C with something like the following:

SEL setWidthHeight; setWidthHeight = @selector(setWidth:height:); or setWidthHeight = NSSelectorFromString(aBuffer);

Where SEL is a special type representing an Objective C method signature, and the @selector directive or NSSelectorFromString(aBuffer) is used to find the method.

I have a feeling that I'm making this more complicated than need be.

Is it possible to do something as simple as:

person.#{method_to_invoke}

You want send()...

http://www.ruby-doc.org/core/classes/Object.html#M000334

3

Philip,

Excellent, that's just what I was looking for.