getter not getting values for new record on validation rails 4 - ruby-on-rails

Question

I have a form_for for creating a new record. I have set getter and setter methods to access form field in my view. Below are my getter ans setter methods with my form view,
Getter & Setter Methods respectively :
def manufacturer_model_name
self.manufacturer_models.pluck(:name).join(', ') unless self.manufacturer_models.blank?
end
def manufacturer_model_name=(names)
names = names.split(',').map{|n| n.strip}.delete_if(&:empty?) if names.present?
names.uniq.each do |name|
id = ManufacturerModel.where(:name => name, :manufacturer_id => manufacturer.id).first_or_create.id
if self.new_record?
self.user_skill_manufacturer_models.build(:user_skill_id => self.id, :manufacturer_model_id => id)
else
self.user_skill_manufacturer_models.where(:user_skill_id => self.id, :manufacturer_model_id => id).first_or_create.id
end
end if names.present?
end
Form View:
= f.text_field :manufacturer_model_name, :class => 'form-control
My problem is that, my input field is autocomplete with multiple set to true, to get multiple values. when user enters multiple comma separated values and submits form and if there are any errors on the form, my new action is rendered and user losts all the entered values forcing him to reenter all again. How can I solve this problem?

Answer 1

It would be better to make a manufacturer_model_name_form field or some such via attr_accessor, and then parse that in validate. It would look something like this:
class ManufacturerModel < ActiveRecord::Base
attr_accessor :manufacturer_model_name_form
validate :validate_manufacturer_model_name
def validate_manufacturer_model_name
errors.add(:manufacturer_model_name, 'not a valid manufacturer model name') if !!true # perform your validation here in place of `!!true`
end
end
Then, in your form, you would use manufacturer_model_name_form instead of manufacturer_model_name:
= f.text_field :manufacturer_model_name_form, :class => 'form-control'