I''m in the process of familiarizing myself with both RoR and database design, which has me seeking some resurance (or tips for change) on my current problem. I''m creating a list of journal articles, books and book chapters. Each article, book and chapter has many authors. Models and their columns (not the actual code): model: Journal name, abbreviated_name, url model: AuthorInfo last_name, first_name, middle_name, model: Author author_info_id, authored_id, authored_type model: Book name, edition, publisher, year model: Article title, year, journal_id, volume, issue model: Chapter title, book_id The relationships are as follows: class Journal < ActiveRecord::Base has_many => :articles end class AuthorInfo < ActiveRecord::Base has_many => authors end class Author < ActiveRecord::Base belongs_to => :authored, :polymorphic => true belongs_to => :authorinfo end class Book < ActiveRecord::Base has_many => :chapters has_many => :authors, :as => :authored end class Article < ActiveRecord::Base belongs_to => :journal has_many => :authors, :as => :authored end class Chapter < ActiveRecord::Base belongs_to => :book has_many => :authors, :as => :authored end Example for journal article: Title: "Neuroplasticity and the frontal lobes", authors: J Kilman, T Spence, Z Atoms. Journal: Neuron This would hopefully be associated with: one row in the Articles table, 3 rows in the Authors table (one for each author), 1 row in the Journal table. Each author would have one row on the AuthorInfos table. Does this make sense, is there a better way to do this? __________________ -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby on Rails: Talk" group. To post to this group, send email to rubyonrails-talk-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rubyonrails-talk-unsubscribe-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFFw@public.gmane.org For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---