Is there any way to have observe_field react to the current value of a field also?

rubyonrails-talk
1

I have a view, seen below, that shows a list of churches if the zip code isn't 01540 or 01537. This part works perfectly. The problem is that this is the page is to edit an existing record also, so observe_field needs to see that the zip code currently doesn't match, so the church list needs to be shown. Currently, even if the zip doesn't match, the list will only be shown after the field is changed, even is the field is changed to the same value.. Here is the view, controller code and church_select view in that order.. Please give me a direction to look..

Thanks

Bob <bsm2th@gmail.com>

View <STYLE TYPE="text/css"> <!-- big{font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;} ---> </STYLE> <% fields_for @household, :builder => TaggedBuilder do | household_form| %> <pre> <div id="household"> <%= household_form.text_field :first_name, :maxlength => 50, :size => 15, :autocomplete => "off", :class => 'household ' %> <%= household_form.text_field :middle, :size => 1, :maxlength =>1, :autocomplete => "off", :class => 'household ' %> <%= household_form.text_field :last_name, :maxlength => 50, :size => 20, :autocomplete => "off", :class => 'household ' %> <%= household_form.text_field :address, :autocomplete => "off", :class => 'household ' %> <%= household_form.text_field :zip, :size=> 5, :autocomplete => "off", :class => 'household ' %> <%= household_form.text_field number_to_phone(:phone, :area_code => true), :autocomplete => "off", :size => 14, :class => 'household ' %> </div> <%= observe_field :household_zip,           :url => {:controller => 'households', :action => 'watch_church'},           :update => :church,           :with => ':zip',           :frequency=> 0.5 %> <div id="church"> </div> <u><b>Federal Programs</b></u> <b>Primary Income </b><%= household_form.select(:primary, [['1. Employment', 1],['2. Unemployment', 2],['3. SSI', 4],['4. TANF/EADC', 8],['5. Other', 16], ['6. None', 32]], :class => "household ") %> <table> <tr><td><%= household_form.check_box :food_stamps %></

</tr>

                <tr><td><%= household_form.check_box :wic %></td></tr>                 <tr><td><%= household_form.check_box :school_breakfast %></

</tr>

                <tr><td><%= household_form.check_box :school_lunch %></td></

                <tr><td><%= household_form.check_box :SFSD %></td></tr></

</b></pre> <% end %>

controller   def watch_church     # debugger       if (params[':zip'] != "01540") && (params[':zip'] != "01537") then       render :partial => "church_select"     else       render(:nothing=>true)     end   end

church_select view <b>Member of Local Church: </b> <%= collection_select('household', 'church_id', Church.find(:all), 'id', 'name') %>

2

HI Bob,

The problem is that this is the page is to edit an existing record also, so observe_field needs to see that the zip code currently doesn't match, so the church list needs to be shown. Currently, even if the zip doesn't match, the list will only be shown after the field is changed,

For the initial page load you just need to test and render if appropriate on the initial page load.

<div id="church">   <% if @household.zip != xxxxx and @household.zip != yyyyy %>       <%= render :partial => "church_select %>   <% end %> </div>

You need to change the render :nothing in your controller to render an empty string or partial to empty the content of the church div when appropriate.

HTH, Bill

3

How would this work with the observe_field later in the page ? This is an edit page, so if the field is changed, the page needs to react correctly This works fine for a new user, but will it be OK for changing an existing user ?

Thanks for the reply

Bob

4

Hi Bob,

How would this work with the observe_field later in the page ? This is an edit page, so if the field is changed, the page needs to react correctly This works fine for a new user, but will it be OK for changing an existing user ?

That's what the second part, below, is about.

You need to change the render :nothing in your controller to render an empty string or partial to empty the content of the church div when appropriate.

Best regards, Bill

5

Never mind. I just tried it and it works perfectly. Thanks for the help.

Bob

Bob Smith wrote: