Rails 3 submit a form with multiple records - ruby-on-rails

Question

I'm new to rails so this is probably a basic question. I am trying to create a form where the user can create 3 records at once. I want the user to only have to click the submit button once. I'm submitting to my Review model a name, comment, and rating. Currently, only the last record is entered into the database.
<%= form_for([#user,#review]) do |f| %>
<table>
<tr>
<td>Rank</td>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Comment</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td><%= f.text_field :name %></td>
<td><%= f.text_field :comment %></td>
<%= f.hidden_field :rating, :value=> "5" %>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td><%= f.text_field :name %></td>
<td><%= f.text_field :comment %></td>
<%= f.hidden_field :rating, :value=> "3" %>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td><%= f.text_field :name %></td>
<td><%= f.text_field :comment %></td>
<%= f.hidden_field :rating, :value=> "1" %>
</tr>
</table>
<div class="actions">
<%= f.submit "Create my top 3" %>
</div>
<% end %>
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

I would recommend using fields_for for this:
<%= form_for([#user, :reviews]) do |f| %>
<% #reviews.each do |review| %>
<%= fields_for review do |r| %>
<%= render "reviews/form", :r => r %>
<% end %>
<% end %>
<% end %>
To make this work, you will need to build as many review objects as you require in your controller:
def new
# you could also have this in a before_filter...
#user = User.find(params[:id])
#reviews = Array.new(3) { #user.reviews.build }
end
This would create new instances of review records for this user, which is different from new records. Instances are simply Ruby objects. Now because you've called #user.reviews.build three times, you'll see three reviews in your view.
def create
#user = User.find(params[:id])
#reviews = Review.create(params[:reviews])
# Some more logic for validating the parameters passed in
end
This will create three new Review objects and link them to #user, assuming all three are valid.

Answer 2

You'll need to tell rails its an array. First, read this section of this article:
For your purpose, you'll need to build the form by hand:
<%= form_tag 'foo' do %>
<% [1,3,5].each do |i| %>
<%= text_field_tag 'review[][name]' %>
<%= text_field_tag 'review[][comment]' %>
<%= hidden_field_tag 'review[][rating]', :value => i %>
<% end %>
<% end %>