Rails - Mar 2006 - newb: convert contents of sql text field to an array or hash

Hi I have a text field in my sql called: keywords
in it are various keywords (suprise!)
''keywords_1*keyword_2*keyword_3''
etc.
all keyword phrases take_this_format seperated by an asterisk*

In my rails app I would like to populate checkboxes with my keywords to 
show that they are already chosen.

can someone please point me in the right direction?
cheers

Peter

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