sequential steps in rails

rubyonrails-talk
1

A lot of times websites simulate wizards where you enter some information and click the next button to move to the next step before completing the form. I'm looking at some code that attempts to achieve this, but it has a "direction" parameter that I'm not sure what it does. All I know is that it is either a -1 or 1 value:

def sequence(method_pre) @step = (params[:step] || 0).to_i @direction = (params[:direction] || 1).to_i

if @step == 0 @step = 1

elsif @direction == -1 send("#{method_pre}_update_values", @step) @step -= 1

elsif send("#{method_pre}_validate", @step)

if @step == send("#{method_pre}_num") send("#{method_pre}_final") else @step += @direction       end     else flash.now[:error]

I'm not exactly sure what direction does here and why it's only a -1 or 1 value. Also, I noticed these possible combinations: (step 1 direction 1)(step 2 direction 1)(step 3 direction 1)(step 0 direction 1)(step 2 direction -1)(step 3 direction -1) Any ideas? Thanks.

2

I looks like @step tells you what step the user is currently at, and that @direction tells you whether he pressed the "previous step" or "next step" button.

3

Sharagoz -- wrote:

I looks like @step tells you what step the user is currently at, and that @direction tells you whether he pressed the "previous step" or "next step" button.

So if that's the case, why would the params method be captured here for both :step and :direction. Thanks for the response.

4

What? You'll need to explain what you mean by "the params method be captured" if you're looking for an answer...

--Matt JOnes