I have a user model with a number of fields representing the user profile. When a user is first signing up, I have an initial question I want to ask that is a one time and not part of the user profile. In the model, I have: attr_accessor :completed_cfdym validates(:completed_cfdym, inclusion: { in: ['Yes', 'No'], message: "%{value} is not a valid response"} ) In the view, I have: <% f.label :completed_cfdym, "Have you Completed 'A Conversation for The Difference You Make'", class: 'span5' %> <%= f.select :completed_cfdym, {'' => nil, 'Yes' => 'Yes', 'No' => 'No'}, {}, { :class => 'span1' } %><br> In the controller, in the create method, I have: if params[:completed_cfdym] == 'Yes' Conversation.create_holder(@user) end Looking at the console model in the development environment, I see that completed_cfdym is returning nil, 'Yes', or 'No' based on what I select. However: The validation fails and, when it returns to the forms page, the completed_cfdym is not preserved - it always returns to '' Also, if I remove the validates, the test in the controller does not seem to be able to recognize the 'Yes'. What am I missing? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby on Rails: Talk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rubyonrails-talk+unsubscribe-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFF+G/Ez6ZCGd0@public.gmane.org To post to this group, send email to rubyonrails-talk-/JYPxA39Uh5TLH3MbocFF+G/Ez6ZCGd0@public.gmane.org To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rubyonrails-talk/df94e4af-e6c3-47bc-95bc-8151e21f6083%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.