Rails - Feb 2008 - how can my model reference a helper?

I know, I know, they''re not allowed to. But here''s my problem.
I''ve got
a really simple model with two fields, name and price, which I want to
show in a form select drop-down. "collection_select" takes a
''text_method'' parameter, which is the method in the model that
gets its
value placed in the <option> tag.

Because I want to show both name and price, I had to add an extra method
in my model-

def description
  "#{name} - #{number_to_currency(price)}"
end

But this fails, because now I''m trying to reference number_to_currency
(a helper method) from my model. How can I get around this?
-- 
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Hi,
> But this fails, because now I''m trying to reference
number_to_currency
> (a helper method) from my model. How can I get around this?
>   
Well.. as you said it''s not the best idea since you are somehow
breaking
the rules of MVC by using methods which are supposed to be only used by 
the views.

That said, a helper is just a ruby module, meaning you can use it in any 
class you want if you just include it. The only problem you can find is 
that some helper methods will assume they are running in a normal 
controller-view cycle (as they should), and they will try to use some of 
the magic variables that get instantiated automatically behind the 
scenes (such as the request, for example).

In case the helper you want to use doesn''t try to use any of those 
variables, you should be able to just include the helper module in your 
model and use all the included methods directly.

regards,

javier ramírez



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Can''t you just add the number_to_currency in the view? Keep things
simple.

On Feb 5, 12:02 pm, javier ramirez
<jrami...-7iWCczGtl7hBDgjK7y7TUQ@public.gmane.org>
wrote:
> Hi,
>
> > But this fails, because now I''m trying to reference
number_to_currency
> > (a helper method) from my model. How can I get around this?
>
> Well.. as you said it''s not the best idea since you are somehow
breaking
> the rules of MVC by using methods which are supposed to be only used by
> the views.
>
> That said, a helper is just a ruby module, meaning you can use it in any
> class you want if you just include it. The only problem you can find is
> that some helper methods will assume they are running in a normal
> controller-view cycle (as they should), and they will try to use some of
> the magic variables that get instantiated automatically behind the
> scenes (such as the request, for example).
>
> In case the helper you want to use doesn''t try to use any of those
> variables, you should be able to just include the helper module in your
> model and use all the included methods directly.
>
> regards,
>
> javier ramírez
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Agreed, I''d rather not break MVC, which is why I''m a little
frustrated
with collection_select for referencing the *model* for what should be 
displayed in the select box... *grumble*

In any case, thanks very much, your solution works.

Liam


javier ramirez wrote:
> Hi,
>> But this fails, because now I''m trying to reference
number_to_currency
>> (a helper method) from my model. How can I get around this?
>>   
> 
> Well.. as you said it''s not the best idea since you are somehow
breaking
> the rules of MVC by using methods which are supposed to be only used by
> the views.
> 
> That said, a helper is just a ruby module, meaning you can use it in any
> class you want if you just include it. The only problem you can find is
> that some helper methods will assume they are running in a normal
> controller-view cycle (as they should), and they will try to use some of
> the magic variables that get instantiated automatically behind the
> scenes (such as the request, for example).
> 
> In case the helper you want to use doesn''t try to use any of those
> variables, you should be able to just include the helper module in your
> model and use all the included methods directly.
> 
> regards,
> 
> javier ram�rez
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If you can come up with a way to integrate that with collection_select, 
I''m all ears. ;) But collection_select seems to reference the model 
directly for display, which kind of breaks MVC.

Melvin Ram wrote:
> Can''t you just add the number_to_currency in the view? Keep things
> simple.
-- 
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Go crazy and add number_to_currency to FixNum.

Tehe. Probably dangerous, but still much fun!

-Ryan

On Feb 5, 2:11 pm, Liam Morley
<rails-mailing-l...-ARtvInVfO7ksV2N9l4h3zg@public.gmane.org>
wrote:
> If you can come up with a way to integrate that with collection_select,
> I''m all ears. ;) But collection_select seems to reference the
model
> directly for display, which kind of breaks MVC.
>
> Melvin Ram wrote:
> > Can''t you just add the number_to_currency in the view? Keep
things
> > simple.
>
> --
> Posted viahttp://www.ruby-forum.com/.
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