Rails - Jan 2009 - Calling class methods from included module

Hi,

I have these two ActiveRecord models: UserEvent and CoordinateEvent.

The models are extended with the module MapEvent. MapEvent includes some
class methods and some instance methods.

Now, I want both models to use ActiveRecord''s serialize
(http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActiveRecord/Base.html#M001984).

My MapEvent looks something like the following. I simply can''t figure
where to put "serialize :column_name":

[code]
module MapEvent
  def self.included(base)
    base.extend(ClassMethods)
  end

  def a_method
  end

  module ClassMethods
    def another_method
    end
  end
end
[/code]

How do I call the serialize method from the above context?

An extra question:
Also, it suddenly hit me, that instead of a module I could write
MapEvent as a class that inherits from ActiveRecord instead of a module
- and then let UserEvent and CoordinateEvent inherit from MapEvent?
Would you recommend this? Generally speaking, when should you use
mixins/module and when you use inheritance?

Hope my questions are clear. Thanks in advance!
-- 
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
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Well - I think I now can answer both of my questions myself. In case 
anyone is curious here is what I''ve learned:

In order to call the serialize method that the two models inherited from 
AR write this:
module MapEvent
  def self.included(base)
    base.serialize :command
  end
end

This makes sense as serialize is just an instance method of the models.

And regarding the module/inheritance question I found an answer reading 
these article (including the comments): 
http://bibwild.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/ruby-and-mix-ins-vs-mult-inheritance

Modules should generally speaking be used when you just want to add 
methods to your concrete classes. If you want to add new class or 
instance variables use "normal" inheritance.
-- 
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
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---