Rails: How do I submit multiple objects into strong params? - ruby-on-rails

Question

I am making a goal tracking app. Right now outcome, purpose, action, priority, resources, and direction are all things which are part of Outcome in the database. However, I want to make purpose and action their own model objects. What I am confused about is how do I submit Outcome, Purpose, and Action, which will be 3 separate model objects, in a single HTTP request?
Should I just use multiple strong params in my controller?
app/view/outcomes/new.html.erb

Answer 1

You need to have model associations of outcomes with purpose and action.
Then you will need to create nested form. So that outform form can wrap purpose and action model attributes.
As you want to have different models for actions and purposes, I'm assuming outcome can has_many purposes and has_many actions. As per this type of association, below is the code you should have.
Your form will become something like:
<%= form_for #outcome do |f| %>
<%= f.label :outcome, "Outcome" %>
<%= f.text_area :outcome %>
<%= f.fields_for :purpose, #outcome.purpose.build do |p| %>
<%= p.text_area :desc, label: "Purpose" %>
<% end %>
<%= f.fields_for :action, #outcome.action.build do |p| %>
<%= p.text_area :desc, label: "Action" %>
<% end %>
<%= f.submit "submit" %>
<% end %>
Models:
# outcome.rb
has_many :purposes, :dependent => :destroy
has_many :actions, :dependent => :destroy
accepts_nested_attributes_of :purposes, :actions
-----------------------------------------
# purpose.rb
belongs_to :outcome
-----------------------------------------
# action.rb
belongs_to :outcome
Controller:
# outcomes_controller.rb
def outcome_params
params.require(:outcome).permit(:outcome, purpose_attributes:[:desc], action_attributes: [:desc])
end
SUGGESTION: You should rename your action model name to avoid unwanted conflicts with rails keyword action.
This may help you

Answer 2

Nestd Attributes
If the objects are associated (as below), you'll be best using the accepts_nested_attributes_for method:
#app/models/outcome.rb
Class Outcome < ActiveRecord::Base
has_many :purposes
has_many :actions
accepts_nested_attributes_for :purposes, :actions
end
#app/models/purpose.rb
Class Purpose < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :outcome
end
#app/models/action.rb
Class Action < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :outcome
end
accepts_nested_attributes_for means you'll be able to send the associated objects through the Outcome model - meaning you can send them all in a single HTTP request
You have to remember the way Rails is set up (MVC pattern), meaning if you send a single request; any further model objects you have will be able to be stored too.
Here's how you can set it up:
#app/controllers/outcomes_controller.rb
Class OutcomesController < ApplicationController
def new
#outcome = Outcome.new
#outcome.purposes.build
#outcoe.actions.build
end
def create
#outcome = Outcome.new(outcome_params)
#outcome.save
end
private
def outcome_params
params.require(:outcome).permit(:outcome, purpose_attributes:[:purpose], action_attributes: [:action])
end
end
Which will give you the ability to use this form:
#app/views/outcomes/new.html.erb
<%= form_for #outcome do |f| %>
<%= f.label :outcome %>
<%= f.text_area :outcome %>
<%= f.fields_for :purposes do |p| %>
<%= p.text_area :purpose %>
<% end %>
<%= f.fields_for :actions do |a| %>
<%= a.text_area :action %>
<% end %>
<%= f.submit %>
<% end %>
--
Recommendation
From the looks of it, I'd recommend you'll be able to keep all of these details in a single model - storing in multiple models seems overkill