Insert multirows from checkboxes [duplicate] - ruby-on-rails

Question

I am stuck in that although my array parameter is being captured, it fails to insert it into the database. I do not get an unpermitted parameters error or anything. It just fails to recognize the array when inserting to the DB.
What I would like to do: Capture any box that is checked off, and insert the data as separate rows into the database.
Here is what I have:
/subscribe/categories/2
<div>
<%= simple_form_for #subscription do |f| %>
<div class="form-inputs">
<%= f.hidden_field :dashboard_id, value: 1 %>
<%= f.hidden_field :category_id, value: #category.id %>
<%= f.collection_check_boxes :feed_id, Feed.where("category_id = ?", #category), :id, :name %>
</div>
<div class="form-actions">
<%= f.button :submit %>
</div>
<% end %>
</div>
CategoriesController
def show
#subscription = Subscription.new
end
SubscriptionsController
def subscription_params
params.require(:subscription).permit(:dashboard_id, :category_id, :feed_id => [])
end
When submitted, here is the console output:
Processing by SubscriptionsController#create as HTML
Parameters: {"utf8"=>"✓", "authenticity_token"=>"Zw2VkwujDLQjV4krjPF8N1EiYo5L/XOrUwedlHCvwB0=", "subscription"=>{"dashboard_id"=>"1", "category_id"=>"2", "feed_id"=>["3", "4", ""]}, "commit"=>"Create Subscription"}
(0.2ms) BEGIN
SQL (1.6ms) INSERT INTO `subscriptions` (`category_id`, `created_at`, `dashboard_id`, `updated_at`) VALUES (2, '2014-01-06 02:17:41', 1, '2014-01-06 02:17:41')
(116.6ms) COMMIT
Redirected to http://localhost:3000/subscriptions/3
Completed 302 Found in 173ms (ActiveRecord: 119.3ms)
Two questions:
Why is there an extra "" for my feed_id array? (Only 2 possible checkboxes)
Why am I not capturing the array to insert it into the database?
Thanks!

Answer 1

The reason your array is not being inserted into the database is that Active Record currently does not support the Postgresql array type. In order to insert these as separate rows the check-boxes need to be represented as individual instances of a model.
Possibly something like...
Category < ActiveRecord::Base
has_many: feeds
...
end
Feed < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to: category
...
end
Now this would also mean that you would need to use the form_tag helper instead of the form_for. This would allow you to create a composite form consisting of multiple individual objects. Inserting this would just mean iterating and inserting over each object; giving you separate rows. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

For anyone that wants to know how to do this, here is one solution I've come up with. Everything in my first post remains the same. In my SubscriptionsController (from which the form is created), here is my create action:
def create
dashboard = params[:subscription][:dashboard_id]
category = params[:subscription][:category_id]
feed = params[:subscription][:feed_id]
#subscription = feed.map { |subscribe| Subscription.create(dashboard_id: dashboard, category_id: category, feed_id: subscribe) }
end
Works as advertised. If anyone thinks for some reason that I am overlooking this is a terrible idea, please comment.