sorting columns in my view

rubyonrails-talk
1

What's the current method for having column headings that when you click on them, sort your view according to that column heading? I used the sortable_columns plug in in the past, but it seems a force-fit for Rails 2.0 respond_to ... format.html

2

Jim Tobin wrote:

What's the current method for having column headings that when you click on them, sort your view according to that column heading? I used the sortable_columns plug in in the past, but it seems a force-fit for Rails 2.0 respond_to ... format.html

I decided to use a helper method when I did this recently to account for columns which would be sorted on a related model's value, rather than the id in the column. The helper I am using is:

  def project_sort_header column_name, display_as = nil     display_as ||= column_name.to_s.humanize     link_to display_as, project_list_path(:sort => column_name)   end

In my view, I have table headings defined thusly:

    <th><%= project_sort_header 'groups.name', 'Group' %></th>     <th><%= project_sort_header :title %></th>     <th>Description</th>     <th><%= project_sort_header :priority %></th>     <th><%= project_sort_header 'users.username', 'Owner' %></th>

And in the controller:

  order = params[:sort] || :priority   @projects = Project.find ;all, :order => order, :include => ...

For multiple models, the helpers can be DRYd by passing in the table type and using self.send and constructing the xxx_list_path method from the table type.

3

jokrish wrote:

i want to know more about sorting in ruby.

Sorting is handled by your call to the model's find method; so to make it user selectable, you use a conditions hash with the find method so you can insert the field name the user clicked on into the find conditions.

The explanation of Conditions is the second section on that page.

Check out Ryan Bates Railcasts on the subject... here's one that should give you some ideas: