You can actually do a find like such:
elements = area.elements.find(:all, :order => "name")
and it will automatically scope only to elements in the area. Still a
'query', but a very simple one.
Michael
you can also sort through the association
has_many :elements, :order => :position
so area.elements will always be sorted.
They are negligibly different in terms of efficiency. The
has_many :elements, :order => :name has a simplicity that I like, I
would go with that one.
Michael Bleigh michael@intridea.com