callback before_save seems not working - ruby-on-rails

Question

I need execute the method name before the record is saved in the database, but it seems not working
class Guest < ActiveRecord::Base
before_save :name
has_and_belongs_to_many :checkins
validates_presence_of :FirstName
validates_presence_of :LastName
validates_format_of :FirstName, with: /^[A-Za-z\s]+$/
validates_format_of :LastName, with: /^[A-Za-z\s]+$/
def name
self.FirstName.titleize + " " + self.LastName.titleize
end
end
console
=> Guest(id: integer, FirstName: string, LastName: string, age: integer, sex: string, photo: string, address: text, mobile: integer, email: string, birthdate: date, created_at: datetime, updated_at: datetime)
1.9.3-p547 :008 > f=Guest.new
=> #<Guest id: nil, FirstName: nil, LastName: nil, age: nil, sex: nil, photo: nil, address: nil, mobile: nil, email: nil, birthdate: nil, created_at: nil, updated_at: nil>
1.9.3-p547 :009 > f.FirstName=" fernando "
=> " fernando "
1.9.3-p547 :010 > f.LastName=" suarez"
=> " suarez"
1.9.3-p547 :011 > f.save
=> true
1.9.3-p547 :012 > Guest.last
=> #<Guest id: 9, FirstName: " fernando ", LastName: " suarez", age: nil, sex: nil, photo: nil, address: nil, mobile: nil, email: nil, birthdate: nil, created_at: "2015-04-26 00:16:38", updated_at: "2015-04-26 00:16:38">

Answer 1

You need to change
self.FirstName.titleize + " " + self.LastName.titleize
to
self.FirstName = self.FirstName.titleize
self.LastName = self.LastName.titleize
Explanation: You didn't actually change anything, but concatenate the values.
But probably you want to use the name method for your name-representation. So I'd suggest a new method for the validation.
It would look like this:
def titlelize_names
self.FirstName = self.FirstName.titleize
self.LastName = self.LastName.titleize
end
And the before_save must call :titlelize_names, of course.