Rails - Apr 2005 - undefined method `length' but I use it in the breakpoints

Hi,
I would like to tell rails to generate a errors.add if the (varchar)
parameter I''m inserting is longer then its definition on the DB.
I''ve write in the validate method of the Model, an error unless the
value before type cast is shorter then the column varchar''s limit....
I''ve found that "limit" in Client.columns[n].limit

So:

def validate
                #breakpoint
                errors.add("ragionesociale", "Troppo
lunga!") unless
ragionesociale_before_type_cast.length <= Client.columns[14].limit
end

should check that ragionesociale''s lenght is not longer than its column
limit.
Using the breakpoint I get the values... 

irb(#<Client:0x409c99b4>):003:0> @attributes
=> {"provincia"=>"132",
"ragionesociale"=>"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
"contocorrente"=>"132",
"localita"=>"123", "cab"=>"132",
"banca"=>"132",
"indirizzo"=>"123", "fax"=>"132",
"cap"=>"132",
"piva"=>"123", "abi"=>"123",
"sportello"=>nil, "telefono"=>"132",
"email"=>"132"}
irb(#<Client:0x409c99b4>):004:0> ragionesociale_before_type_cast
=> "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
irb(#<Client:0x409c99b4>):005:0> ragionesociale_before_type_cast.length
=> 103


but executing normally I get an error:
NoMethodError in Client#crea

undefined method `length'' for nil:NilClass

How could this happen? On the breakpoint I''ve looked at that value...
Thanks for the help,
Enrico

-- 
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing"
 Edmund Burke

I''ve solved using  validates_length_of instead of my way :)

2005/4/21, Enrico Teotti
<agenteo-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org>:
> Hi,
> I would like to tell rails to generate a errors.add if the (varchar)
> parameter I''m inserting is longer then its definition on the DB.
> I''ve write in the validate method of the Model, an error unless
the
> value before type cast is shorter then the column varchar''s
limit....
> I''ve found that "limit" in Client.columns[n].limit
> 
> So:
> 
> def validate
>                 #breakpoint
>                 errors.add("ragionesociale", "Troppo
lunga!") unless
> ragionesociale_before_type_cast.length <= Client.columns[14].limit
> end
> 
> should check that ragionesociale''s lenght is not longer than its
column limit.
> Using the breakpoint I get the values...
> 
> irb(#<Client:0x409c99b4>):003:0> @attributes
> => {"provincia"=>"132",
>
"ragionesociale"=>"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
> aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
> "contocorrente"=>"132",
"localita"=>"123", "cab"=>"132",
> "banca"=>"132",
"indirizzo"=>"123", "fax"=>"132",
"cap"=>"132",
> "piva"=>"123", "abi"=>"123",
"sportello"=>nil, "telefono"=>"132",
> "email"=>"132"}
> irb(#<Client:0x409c99b4>):004:0> ragionesociale_before_type_cast
> => "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
> aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
> irb(#<Client:0x409c99b4>):005:0>
ragionesociale_before_type_cast.length
> => 103
> 
> but executing normally I get an error:
> NoMethodError in Client#crea
> 
> undefined method `length'' for nil:NilClass
> 
> How could this happen? On the breakpoint I''ve looked at that
value...
> Thanks for the help,
> Enrico
> 
> --
> "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
> is for good men to do nothing"
>  Edmund Burke
> 

-- 
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing"
 Edmund Burke