Search bar + select tag rails - ruby-on-rails

Question

I have a search bar + a dropdown list to search for restaurants or meals and be able to filter by category (French food, Indian, foot, etc.)
index.html.erb
<%= form_tag meals_path, method: 'get', id: 'products_search' do %>
<p>
<%= text_field_tag :search, params[:search] %>
<%= select_tag :search_category, options_for_select(#categories, #categories[0]) %>
<%= submit_tag "Rechercher", name: nil %>
</p>
<% end %>
meals_controller.rb
#meals_search = #meals.search(params[:search], params[:search_category])
model/meal.rb
def self.search(search, search_category)
if search
if search && search_category == "All"
where('name LIKE ?', "%#{search}%")
elsif search == "" && search_category != "All"
where('category = ?', "%#{search_category}%")
else
where('name LIKE ? AND category = ?', "%#{search}%", "%#{search_category}%")
end
else
all
end
end
the search bar works perfectly but the category filter (search_category) does not. I actually get an empty list although you can only filter with category that has at least one restaurant or meal (so the list can't be empty).
Any idea ?

Answer 1

just use ransack, for advanced searching and sorting

Answer 2

OK so, following #vishnuprakash 's suggestion, I used the ransack gem to solve my issue:
I added gem 'ransack' to my Gemfile and ran bundle.
Then I created this form in my index.html.erb:
<%= search_form_for #q do |f| %>
<%= f.search_field :name_cont %>
<%= f.select :category_eq, options_for_select(#categories), include_blank: true %>
<%= f.submit %>
<% end %>
and meals_controller.rb:
#q = #meals.ransack(params[:q])
#meals_search = #q.result(distinct: true)
I also got rid of the function previously created in model/meals.rb.
It now works perfectly ! Do not hesitate to have a look at the ransack dock if you have similar issue. You can also DM me, I'll be happy to help.

Answer 3

Try to change
where('name LIKE ? AND category = ?', "%#{search}%", "%#{search_category}%")
to
where('name LIKE ? AND category = ?', "%#{search}%", search_category)
and
where('category = ?', "%#{search_category}%")
to
where('category = ?', search_category)
The %...% syntax only works with LIKE, not with =.