Just starting a new thread so that it's easy to follow.
I just submitted a patch at trac to add a new class method called
"set_default_values" ( not a great name I think ), which lets you do
all kinds of crazy stuff with setting default values.
It also lets you make use of other attributes ( set by supplying
attributes to Model.new call or even those set by set_default_values
call ) in setter method/proc.
If people like this approach, I'll add tests to patch, else will just
close the ticket
- When you want to set an attr_protected value based on value of other
fields. With my current patch, it won't work if you supply protected
value in mass assignment. Will patch it later.
- When you are using STI and have some fields whose default value
depends on type
- On a longer run, I'd love to make this useful for has_many :through
<< - but that's very far. In an idea world, I'd like to do something
like :
has_many :friendships do
set_default_values :relation => "Family"
end
has_many :friends, :through => :friendships
And @model.friends << Something.create
Just a rough example. Achieving wouldn't really be simple. But if it's
done, it could be just awesome. This patch *might* be a first step
towards it.
- default values set via database functions
- default values set via manual sequence manpulation
- default values overridden in STI (STI being totally useless without this ability)
I'm jumping on this boat. I actually just noticed I had written a
sticky note to myself about something like this earlier. Oh,
memory... why hast thou forsaken me?
