URL parameter not preserved after validation fails and 'new' action is rendered - ruby-on-rails

When I initially call the new function all variables load up correctly. The params[:code] is a URL param defined in routes. However, when validation fails on create and new is rendered, the #m variable is not loaded (this causes a nomethoderror when an attribute of #m is called in the 'new' template). So, the :code parameter is not obtained after rendering new. However can the :code parameter be preserved after validation fails?
class AffiliatesController < ApplicationController
def new
#m = Merchant.find_by_code(params[:code])
#affiliate = Affiliate.new
end
def create
a = Affiliate.new(params[:affiliate])
if a.save
redirect_to 'http://' + params[:ref]
else
render 'new'
end
end
end

Another way to preserve params[:code], aside from using the session, is to add a hidden field in the form.
<%= form_for #affiliate do |f| %>
<%= hidden_field_tag :code, #m.code %>
Then change the create action to
def create
#affiliate = Affiliate.new(params[:affiliate])
if #affiliate.save
redirect_to 'http://' + params[:ref]
else
#m = Merchant.find_by_code(params[:code])
render :new
end
end

before you call render you should fill in all the variables that will be used by the view.
So in your case you need to instantiate #m = ... before you render 'new' from within the create as well.
If you need an extra parameter to accomplish this (the param[:code] in your case) I would not recomment you to configure routes and pass this information over the URI, it's complicated.
Use the session instead, it's a lot easier!
For example:
in index (or wherever you have the merchant code available) add session[:merchant_code] = the_code.
in new change #m = Merchant.find_by_code(session[:merchant_code])
Cheers,

Related

How to use Jbuilder to save output for later

I want to save json into a database field for later use. How should I go about that with Jbuilder?
I want to use an item's show template, passing in the object, #item to save the output for that Item into the database for later use.
I got some output with the following code:
view_paths = Rails::Application::Configuration.new(Rails.root).paths["app/views"]
av_helper = ActionView::Base.new view_paths
include Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
#job = Job.find(239)
output = av_helper.render(file: '/api/jobs/show.jbuilder', locals: {:#job => #job})
How can I render the saved json directly from the controller?
Add this for the action code in the controller
def show
#job = Job.find(params[:id])
render :inline => #job.json_output
end
render_to_string
Raw rendering of a template to a string.
It is similar to render, except that it does not set the response_body
and it should be guaranteed to always return a string.
Also if you're doing it from a controller there you can just use the controller to render it:
class JobsController
def create
#job = Job.new(item_params) do |job|
job.my_json_attribute = render_to_string(:show, locals: { :#job => job})
end
if #job.save
redirect_to #job
else
render :new
end
end
end
But this seems like a pretty overcomplicated and flawed way to handle something that can be done with e-tag caching and a reverse proxy or even low level caching. Especially since you would have to repeat the logic when updating the item.

param is missing or the value is empty: ph - rails

This is a possible duplicate, but I have read and tried nearly all suggestions, but I keep getting the error on the New action view. I am using Rails 5.
I have tried the following:
private
def ph_params
params.require(:ph).permit(:amount)
end
And also tried the following, and the error disappeared, but my values were not saving to database, only shows Nil:
private
def ph_params
params.permit(:amount)
end
My controller:
class PhsController < ApplicationController
def index
end
def new
#ph = Ph.new(ph_params)
end
def create
#ph = Ph.new(ph_params)
respond_to do |format|
if #ph.save
format.html { redirect_to #ph }
else
format.html { render "new" }
end
end
end
def show
#ph = Ph.find(params[:id])
end
private
def ph_params
params.require(:ph).permit(:amount)
end
end
new.html.erb form start
<%= simple_form_for #ph, url: phs_path do |f| %>
Model
class Ph < ApplicationRecord
end
I might be missing something. Your assistance is appreciated, thank you in advance.
Modify your new action to
def new
#ph = Ph.new
end
The reason you're getting the error is because when you hit the route phs/new, no key ph is passed in the params hash to the controller but you're trying to access params[:ph][:amount] which is the return value of ph_params. This is why the error 'param is missing or the value is empty' occurs.
If you want to know what values were passed in the params has for every request, add the following line to your application.html.erb
<%= params.inspect %>
You'll probably find a hash with two keys {"controller" => "phs", "action" => "new"} in the new page.
However, when you try to create a new ph object, you will find a key ph in your params hash.
By the way, I think you don't quite understand strong parameters. I would suggest you to read http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActionController/StrongParameters.html

How does rails populate forms?

Let's say I create a scaffold:
rails g scaffold Cat name:string age:integer
and I add a presence validation on the Cat model's age attribute:
validates :age, presence: true
When I attempt to create a cat via the form, and put in the cat's name but purposely leave out the cat's age the controller bounces me back to the form but that cat's name is still present in the name field!
How is this happening?
I would have thought the
#cat = Cat.new
would replace all of the invalid cat's attributes. Maybe if it were #cat ||= Cat.new I could understand that more.
Also, how can I make this behaviour happen in a more complex rails app? I have a simple forum where topics has_many replies. I create my new replies via a form in my topic show view:
topic#show:
#reply = Reply.new
topic/show.html.erb:
<%= form_for [#toplic, #reply] do |f| %>
<%= f.text_field :name placeholder: 'Create a new name...' %><br>
<%= f.text_area :description, placeholder: 'Create a new description...', rows: 5 %><br>
<%= f.submit 'Create Discussion' %>
<% end %>
While everything works perfectly, when I purposely leave out a reply's name, though I am redirected back to the form and an error flash shows, my form is completely empty. All of the attributes have vanished? Why is this?
The key to understanding how this works is to realize that in the case of a form failure, the controller action is not rerun, but rather the template is rendered using the existing state from the action.
In a typical Rails scaffold, your create action will look like this
def create
#cat = Cat.new(cat_params) # instance variable is initialized with the form values
if #cat.save
redirect_to #cat, notice: 'Success!'
else
# in the case of form failure, we will re-render the 'new' template
# this will NOT rerun the entire 'new' action, thus the #cat variable
# will still maintain the values from the form that we gave it above
render 'new'
# note the difference if we had instead done a redirect_to; this would
# cause the CatsController#new action to be re-run which would reinitialize
# the #cat variable according to the code within the 'new' action
# redirect_to new_cat_url
end
end
For your more complex example, you'll want to follow the same procedure, making sure you just re-render the form and don't redirect to another action (which will cause the state to be lost).
# TopicsController
def show
#topic = Topic.find(params[:id])
#reply = Reply.new
end
# RepliesController
def create
#reply = Reply.new(reply_params) # init the var with the form values
if #reply.save
redirect_to #topic, notice: 'Success!'
else
# this is the key - we need to re-render the template of the previous action
# in this case, it would be the TopicsController#show template
render 'topics/show'
# Remember - if we instead do a redirect_to #topic, then we will lose the form
# values which are currently set in the #reply variable.
end
end
In short, make sure you recognize when you are redirecting to a new action versus just re-rendering a template.
One important GOTCHA to be aware of when re-rendering a template is that you must make sure that all the instance variables which exist for the controller action are available when you render the template.
For example,
# TopicsController
def show
#topic = Topic.find(params[:id])
#reply = Reply.new
#foo = Foo.new
end
# RepliesController
before_action :set_topic
def create
#reply = Reply.new(reply_params)
if #reply.save
# ...
else
# we need to remember to set up a #foo variable here otherwise it will be undefined
# when used within the 'show' template
#foo = Foo.new
render 'topics/show'
end
protected
def set_topic
#topic = Topic.find(params[:topic_id])
end
OK, so, you go go /cat/new. Rails' route for this URL runs the method CatsController#new, which renders the new.html.erb template. You put in your data, then hit submit. The action for this form is to POST to /cats, which runs the CatsController#create method. This method does this following:
#cat = Cat.new(cat_params)
It then tries to save the Cat. If it succeeds, it redirects you to the Cat's URL. If not, it re-renders the new.html.erb template. That's where the name comes from — the CatsController#update method creates its Cat from the values you put into the original form.
For a typical scaffold create action:
# POST /products
# POST /products.json
def create
#product = Product.new(params[:product])
respond_to do |format|
if #product.save
format.html { redirect_to #product, notice: 'Product was successfully created.' }
format.json { render json: #product, status: :created, location: #product }
else
format.html { render action: "new" } #will re-submit
format.json { render json: #product.errors, status: :unprocessable_entity }
end
end
end
The magic happens in the render method! which will submit the previous POST request (won't go back to the new action while a redirect will do), this way the submited values are still there. (check this SO question for more details)
That's said, this behavior relies on following the convention, however sometimes you need to give it a hand specially with some inputs (e.g selects, checkboxes, radio) might require extra setup using selected or value options

Send parameter to render

I have a form for creating a ticket, which needs an id of a project. This works but not when it comes to validation. If validation won't pass 'render :new' is executed and the project_id doesn't come with it.
I have tried 'redirect_to new_ticket_path(:project_id => params[:ticket][:project_id]) which renders the form again, but the error messages won't show up so it seems that I need to use 'render :new'.
How can I pass the project_id back to the form or reach project_id from the form without passing it?
def new
#ticket = Ticket.new
#id = params[:project_id]
#project = Project.find(#id)
end
def create
#ticket = Ticket.new(params[:ticket].merge(:user_id => current_user.id))
if #ticket.save
redirect_to #ticket
else
render :new <--- will render without the project_id
end
end
That will render just the view for 'new', but will not run the controller action. You'd need to set up your variables for the 'new' view in your 'create' action.
From http://guides.rubyonrails.org/layouts_and_rendering.html#using-render
Using render with :action is a frequent source of confusion for Rails
newcomers. The specified action is used to determine which view to
render, but Rails does not run any of the code for that action in the
controller. Any instance variables that you require in the view must
be set up in the current action before calling render.
The easiest way around this is to change 'new':
def new
#ticket = Ticket.new(:project_id => params[:project_id])
end
and change any references to #project in your 'new' form to #ticket.project. At that point, you shouldn't have to add anything to your 'create' action as long as your form includes a hidden field for the ticket's project id.
The easiest way to get this working (and I would do this anyway) is to nest the task resource under projects. That way you will always have project_id available in params.
# config/routes.rb
resources :projects do
resources :tasks
end
The urls will look like projects/123/tasks/new etc. Take a look at rake routes.
Write project id into a hidden field in your form and you will okay. And don't forget to initialize #id in your create action
def new
#ticket = Ticket.new
#id = params[:project_id]
#project = Project.find(#id)
end
def create
#ticket = Ticket.new(params[:ticket].merge(:user_id => current_user.id))
#id = params[:project_id] # but make sure it is under this key in params
if #ticket.save
redirect_to #ticket
else
render :new <--- will render without the project_id
end
end
and in the form add
<%= hidden_field :project_id, '', value: #id %>
Why don't you use:
flash[:alert] = #ticket.errors.inspect
redirect_to new_ticket_path(:project_id => params[:ticket][:project_id])

In Rails when a resource create action fails and calls render :new, why must the URL change to the resource's index url?

I have a resource called Books. It's listed as a resource properly in my routes file.
I have a new action, which gives the new view the standard:
#book = Book.new
On the model, there are some attributes which are validated by presence, so if a save action fails, errors will be generated.
In my controller:
#book = Book.create
... # some logic
if #book.save
redirect_to(#book)
else
render :new
end
This is pretty standard; and the rationale for using render:new is so that the object is passed back to the view and errors can be reported, form entries re-filled, etc.
This works, except every time I'm sent back to the form (via render :new), my errors show up, but my URL is the INDEX URL, which is
/books
Rather than
/books/new
Which is where I started out in the first place. I have seen several others posts about this problem, but no answers. At a minimum, one would assume it would land you at /books/create, which I also have a view file for (identical to new in this case).
I can do this:
# if the book isn't saved then
flash[:error] = "Errors!"
redirect_to new_book_path
But then the #book data is lost, along with the error messages, which is the entire point of having the form and the actions, etc.
Why is render :new landing me at /books, my index action, when normally that URL calls the INDEX method, which lists all the books?
It actually is sending you to the create path. It's in the create action, the path for which is /books, using HTTP method POST. This looks the same as the index path /books, but the index path is using HTTP method GET. The rails routing code takes the method into account when determining which action to call. After validation fails, you're still in the create action, but you're rendering the new view. It's a bit confusing, but a line like render :new doesn't actually invoke the new action at all; it's still running the create action and it tells Rails to render the new view.
I just started with the Rails-Tutorial and had the same problem.
The solution is just simple: If you want the same URL after submitting a form (with errors), just combine the new and create action in one action.
Here is the part of my code, which makes this possible (hope it helps someone^^)
routes.rb (Adding the post-route for new-action):
...
resources :books
post "books/new"
...
Controller:
...
def create
#book = Book.new(book_params)
if #book.save
# save was successful
print "Book saved!"
else
# If we have errors render the form again
render 'new'
end
end
def new
if book_params
# If data submitted already by the form we call the create method
create
return
end
#book = Book.new
render 'new' # call it explicit
end
private
def book_params
if params[:book].nil? || params[:book].empty?
return false
else
return params.require(:book).permit(:title, :isbn, :price)
end
end
new.html.erb:
<%= form_for #book, :url => {:action => :new} do |f| %>
<%= f.label :title %>
<%= f.text_field :title %>
<%= f.label :isbn %>
<%= f.text_field :isbn %>
<%= f.label :price %>
<%= f.password_field :price %>
<%= f.submit "Save book" %>
<% end %>
Just had the very same question, so maybe this might help somebody someday. You basically have to make 3 adjustments in order for this thing to work, although my solution is still not ideal.
1) In the create action:
if #book.save
redirect_to(#book)
else
flash[:book] = #book
redirect_to new_book_path
end
2) In the new action:
#book = flash[:book] ? Book.new(flash[:book]): Book.new
3) Wherever you parse the flash hash, be sure to filter out flash[:book].
--> correct URL is displayed, Form data is preserved. Still, I somehow don't like putting the user object into the flash hash, I don't think that's it's purpose. Does anyboy know a better place to put it in?
It doesn't land you at /books/new since you are creating resource by posting to /books/. When your create fails it is just rendering the new action, not redirecting you to the new action. As #MrYoshiji says above you can try redirecting it to the new action, but this is really inefficient as you would be creating another HTTP request and round trip to the server, only to change the url. At that point if it matters you could probably use javascript change it.
It can be fixed by using same url but different methods for new and create action.
In the routes file following code can be used.
resources :books do
get :common_path_string, on: :collection, action: :new
post :common_path_string, on: :collection, action: :create
end
Now you new page will render at url
books/common_path_string
In case any errors comes after validation, still the url will be same.
Also in the form instead using
books_path
use
url: common_path_string_books_path, method: :post
Choose common_path_string of your liking.
If client side validation fails you can still have all the field inputs when the new view is rendered. Along with server side errors output to the client. On re-submission it will still run create action.
In books_controller.rb
def new
#book = current_user.books.build
end
def create
# you will need to have book_params in private
#book = current_user.books.build(book_params)
if #book.save
redirect_to edit_book_path(#book), notice: "Book has been added successfully"
# render edit but you can redirect to dashboard path or root path
else
redirect_to request.referrer, flash: { error: #book.errors.full_messages.join(", ") }
end
end
In new.html.erb
<%= form_for #book, html: {class: 'some-class'} do |f| %>
...
# Book fields
# Can also customize client side validation by adding novalidate:true,
# and make your own JS validations with error outputs for each field.
# In the form or use browser default validation.
<% end %>

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