Ferret talk - Jan 2006 - Constructing a query from an object

Hi,

    Apart from checking each field in an object created from form 
params, is there an easy way I can construct a query from an object? For 
example, I''m doing this:

@candidate = Candidate.new(params[:candidate])

And go on to check each attribute if it''s blank and thereby
constructing
a query. It''s pretty common, so I''m guessing there should be a
easier way.

Thanks,
Vamsee.