I have an array of hashes that contains several fields, including first_name and last_name. Unfortunately, since its the result of an API call, I have no other ways to work with it. Regardless, I''m trying to build a basic search function where a user can enter a name and it will display the results from a newly created array. I''m guessing that sort_by will be the best route to go, but I''ve been unsuccessful in finding out how to use it with multiple fields. Any guesses? The second part to the question is how you structure the sort_by, if that is the best way, to find objects that are similar to the requested query. It''s not so much that a user would mispell a name (although that would be helpful) but if they put in a firstname + lastname pair, it wouldn''t technically match with either field on its own. Thanks in advance. :) -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Your question needs a bit of clarification--please use a examples of
the query, the data set format to be searched, and the expected
result. And then repeat for the case that you are having trouble
with.
But I''ll throw out some thoughts even though I am confused about what
you are trying to do...
Here is an example of how to sort_by last_name on an array of hashes
with first_name and last_name keys .
array.sort_by{|hash| hash[:last_name]}
> irb
>> test = [{:first_name=>''tim'',
:last_name=>''rand''},{:first_name=>''jim'',
:last_name=>''band''},{:first_name=>''him'',
:last_name=>''crand''}]
=> [{:first_name=>"tim", :last_name=>"rand"},
{:first_name=>"jim", :last_name=>"band"},
{:first_name=>"him",
:last_name=>"crand"}]>> test
=> [{:first_name=>"tim", :last_name=>"rand"},
{:first_name=>"jim", :last_name=>"band"},
{:first_name=>"him",
:last_name=>"crand"}]>> test.sort_by{|hash| hash[:first_name]}
=> [{:first_name=>"him", :last_name=>"crand"},
{:first_name=>"jim", :last_name=>"band"},
{:first_name=>"tim",
:last_name=>"rand"}]>> test.sort_by{|hash| hash[:last_name]}
=> [{:first_name=>"jim", :last_name=>"band"},
{:first_name=>"him", :last_name=>"crand"},
{:first_name=>"tim", :last_name=>"rand"}]
To find misspelled names is a bit trickier--I would probably use the
text rubygem as it has the ability to calculate the Levenshtein
distance (basically number of substitutions, deletions and insertions)
required to spell the target using a query. You would have to compare
the query to all names and sort based on the levenshtein distance and
then pull the closest match.I have used that strategy in the past and
it works. Here is a quick demo of the syntax for the levenshtein
distance:>irb
>> require ''text''
=> true>> Text::Levenshtein.distance(''this'',
''that'')
=> 2>> Text::Levenshtein.distance(''query'',
''queen'')
=> 2
To the extent that I think I understand your question, I bet having
some verification is going to be unavoidable. Something like the
following to catch cases when people type in a space separated first
and last name.
>> if query.match(" ") #query is something like "first
last"
>> query_first, query_last = "first last".split(/ /)[0],
"first last".split(/ /)[1]
>> else
>> query_first = query_last = query
>> end
Hope that helps,
Tim
On May 23, 4:49 pm, Robert Scott
<rails-mailing-l...-ARtvInVfO7ksV2N9l4h3zg@public.gmane.org>
wrote:> I have an array of hashes that contains several fields, including
> first_name and last_name. Unfortunately, since its the result of an API
> call, I have no other ways to work with it. Regardless, I''m trying
to
> build a basic search function where a user can enter a name and it will
> display the results from a newly created array.
>
> I''m guessing that sort_by will be the best route to go, but
I''ve been
> unsuccessful in finding out how to use it with multiple fields. Any
> guesses?
>
> The second part to the question is how you structure the sort_by, if
> that is the best way, to find objects that are similar to the requested
> query. It''s not so much that a user would mispell a name (although
that
> would be helpful) but if they put in a firstname + lastname pair, it
> wouldn''t technically match with either field on its own.
>
> Thanks in advance. :)
> --
> Posted viahttp://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Tim,
I really appreciate the time and thoughtfulness you put in your reply.
To clarify further from my original question, building from your
example.
contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'',
:last_name=>''rand'', :id =
1},{:first_name=>''jim'',
:last_name=>''band'', :id =>
2},{:first_name=>''him'',
:last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}]
Using a search form, the user will submit a string, looking for a
particular contact in the array. Unfortunately, this might be just
"tim"
or "rand" or "tim rand". If a match is found in the array, I
need to
return the id number associated with the match.
Now, if I was accessing the information from a database table directly
instead of an array, something like this would probably suffice.
@contacts = Contact.find(:all, :conditions => [ ''LOWER(lastname)
LIKE ?
OR LOWER(firstname) LIKE ?'', ''%'' + value.downcase +
''%'',''%'' +
value.downcase + ''%''])
Unfortunately, I''m not sure how to build the equivalent query for an
existing array. Sort_by helps, but I haven''t found a way to allow it to
search both :first_name and :last_name - only one at a time.
--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
On 25/05/2009, at 6:23 PM, Robert Scott wrote:> > Tim, > > I really appreciate the time and thoughtfulness you put in your reply. > To clarify further from my original question, building from your > example. > > contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id > 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => > 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] ># item is a hash, contacts in an array - using the Array#find or Array#detect method (they''re synonymous) # assuming search_string contains the string you want to find found_item = contacts.detect{|item| item.values.any?{|value| value.include?(search_string)}} or found_item = contacts.detect{|item| item.values.join.include? (search_string)} then, it''s simply a matter of getting the id value from the found_item. As this is a hash, just found_item[:id] should suffice. Julian. ---------------------------------------------- Learn: http://sensei.zenunit.com/ Last updated 20-May-09 (Rails, Basic Unix) Blog: http://random8.zenunit.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/random8r> Using a search form, the user will submit a string, looking for a > particular contact in the array. Unfortunately, this might be just > "tim" > or "rand" or "tim rand". If a match is found in the array, I need to > return the id number associated with the match. > >...> Unfortunately, I''m not sure how to build the equivalent query for an > existing array. Sort_by helps, but I haven''t found a way to allow it > to > search both :first_name and :last_name - only one at a time.
Hi again Robert,
There might be methods build into rails for doing this, but when you
have a very specific case, you might just roll out your own methods to
get exactly what you want:
=begin
given a data structure like @contacts [{:first_name=>''tim'',
:last_name=>''rand'', :id
1},{:first_name=>''jim'',
:last_name=>''band'', :id =>
2},{:first_name=>''him'',
:last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}]
and given a query may be first, last, or both names
return id number for matches
=end
#here is our search array
@contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'',
:last_name=>''rand'', :id =>
1},{:first_name=>''jim'',
:last_name=>''band'', :id =>
2},{:first_name=>''him'',
:last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3},
{:first_name=>''shim'',
:last_name=>''crand'', :id => 4}]
#method to separate names if more than one is given
def parse_query(query)
if query.match(" ")
name1, name2 = query.split(/ /)
else
name1 = query
return name1.to_a
end
return [name1, name2]
end
#find any name in hash field and return the ids
def search_array_with_hashes(array_with_name_or_names)
@hits = []
#search first names
array_with_name_or_names.each do |name|
@contacts.each do |hash|
@hits << hash[:id] if hash.values.include?(name)
end
end
@hits.uniq
end
#usage/test case examples
p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("band"))
p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("tim rand"))
p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("crand"))
# >> [2]
# >> [1]
# >> [3, 4]
Will that do the trick?
Tim
On May 25, 1:23 am, Robert Scott
<rails-mailing-l...-ARtvInVfO7ksV2N9l4h3zg@public.gmane.org>
wrote:> Tim,
>
> I really appreciate the time and thoughtfulness you put in your reply.
> To clarify further from my original question, building from your
> example.
>
> contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'',
:last_name=>''rand'', :id >
1},{:first_name=>''jim'',
:last_name=>''band'', :id =>
> 2},{:first_name=>''him'',
:last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}]
>
> Using a search form, the user will submit a string, looking for a
> particular contact in the array. Unfortunately, this might be just
"tim"
> or "rand" or "tim rand". If a match is found in the
array, I need to
> return the id number associated with the match.
>
> Now, if I was accessing the information from a database table directly
> instead of an array, something like this would probably suffice.
>
> @contacts = Contact.find(:all, :conditions => [
''LOWER(lastname) LIKE ?
> OR LOWER(firstname) LIKE ?'', ''%'' +
value.downcase + ''%'',''%'' +
> value.downcase + ''%''])
>
> Unfortunately, I''m not sure how to build the equivalent query for
an
> existing array. Sort_by helps, but I haven''t found a way to allow
it to
> search both :first_name and :last_name - only one at a time.
> --
> Posted viahttp://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Tim, Thanks again for the detailed thoughts. It looks like your approach is structured in a way that should handle what I''m looking for, and provide a framework for future expansion. I went ahead and implemented it in, and am trying to resolve an issue now (NoMethodError (undefined method `values_at'') for `search_array_with_hashes'' but I''ll let you know once it gets working. Cheers! timr wrote:> Hi again Robert, > There might be methods build into rails for doing this, but when you > have a very specific case, you might just roll out your own methods to > get exactly what you want: > > =begin > given a data structure like @contacts > [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id > 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => > 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] > and given a query may be first, last, or both names > return id number for matches > =end > > #here is our search array > @contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id => > 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => > 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}, > {:first_name=>''shim'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 4}] > > #method to separate names if more than one is given > def parse_query(query) > if query.match(" ") > name1, name2 = query.split(/ /) > else > name1 = query > return name1.to_a > end > return [name1, name2] > end > > #find any name in hash field and return the ids > def search_array_with_hashes(array_with_name_or_names) > @hits = [] > #search first names > array_with_name_or_names.each do |name| > @contacts.each do |hash| > @hits << hash[:id] if hash.values.include?(name) > end > end > @hits.uniq > end > > #usage/test case examples > p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("band")) > p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("tim rand")) > p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("crand")) > # >> [2] > # >> [1] > # >> [3, 4] > > Will that do the trick? > Tim > > On May 25, 1:23�am, Robert Scott <rails-mailing-l...-ARtvInVfO7m5VldFQK4jKA@public.gmane.orgt>-- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
It looks like a typo got introduced as you were moving the method into your rails app. There is no values_at call in my method, perhaps you accidentally tab completed and inadvertently introduced the _at. Good luck. Tim On May 26, 2:07 am, Robert Scott <rails-mailing-l...-ARtvInVfO7ksV2N9l4h3zg@public.gmane.org> wrote:> Tim, > > Thanks again for the detailed thoughts. It looks like your approach is > structured in a way that should handle what I''m looking for, and provide > a framework for future expansion. I went ahead and implemented it in, > and am trying to resolve an issue now (NoMethodError (undefined method > `values_at'') for `search_array_with_hashes'' but I''ll let you know once > it gets working. > > Cheers! > > > > > > timr wrote: > > Hi again Robert, > > There might be methods build into rails for doing this, but when you > > have a very specific case, you might just roll out your own methods to > > get exactly what you want: > > > =begin > > given a data structure like @contacts > > [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id > > 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => > > 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] > > and given a query may be first, last, or both names > > return id number for matches > > =end > > > #here is our search array > > @contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id => > > 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => > > 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}, > > {:first_name=>''shim'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 4}] > > > #method to separate names if more than one is given > > def parse_query(query) > > if query.match(" ") > > name1, name2 = query.split(/ /) > > else > > name1 = query > > return name1.to_a > > end > > return [name1, name2] > > end > > > #find any name in hash field and return the ids > > def search_array_with_hashes(array_with_name_or_names) > > @hits = [] > > #search first names > > array_with_name_or_names.each do |name| > > @contacts.each do |hash| > > @hits << hash[:id] if hash.values.include?(name) > > end > > end > > @hits.uniq > > end > > > #usage/test case examples > > p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("band")) > > p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("tim rand")) > > p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("crand")) > > # >> [2] > > # >> [1] > > # >> [3, 4] > > > Will that do the trick? > > Tim > > > On May 25, 1:23 am, Robert Scott <rails-mailing-l...-ARtvInVfO7ksV2N9l4h3zg@public.gmane.org> > > -- > Posted viahttp://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Sorry, Tim. I should have clarified. This is the line that is having issues: @hits << hash[:id] if hash.values.include?(name) Specifically, the .values part. timr wrote:> It looks like a typo got introduced as you were moving the method into > your rails app. There is no values_at call in my method, perhaps you > accidentally tab completed and inadvertently introduced the _at. > Good luck. > Tim > > On May 26, 2:07�am, Robert Scott <rails-mailing-l...-ARtvInVfO7m5VldFQK4jKA@public.gmane.orgt>-- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Sorry, but that code below is really unidiomatic ruby. Given the following:>> given a data structure like @contacts >> [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id >> 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => >> 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] >> and given a query may be first, last, or both names >> return id number for matches >@contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id => 1}, {:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id =>2}, {:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] keywords = "ran" @contacts.select{|hash| keywords.split.any?{|keyword| hash.values.join.include?(keyword)}}.map{|hash| hash[:id]} # or more prettily: @contacts.select do |hash| keywords.split.any? do |keyword| hash.values.join.include?(keyword) end end. # note the period at the end of this line... indicating we still want to send the result of this select method another message yet... (ie the map message below). map do |hash| hash[:id] end => [1, 3] if you really need to make a method of it (tho I don''t know why you would), you can do so thusly: class ArrayOfHashes < Array def search_array_with_hashes(keywords) found_hashes = self.select{|hash| keywords.split.any?{|keyword| hash.values.join.include?(keyword)}} found_hashes.map{|hash| hash[:id]} end end @contacts = ArrayOfHashes.new(@contacts) @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("ran") => [1, 3] @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("band") => [2] @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("tim rand") => [1, 3] @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("crand") => [3] @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("jam") => []>> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("band")) >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("tim rand")) >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("crand")) >---------------------------------------------- Learn: http://sensei.zenunit.com/ Last updated 20-May-09 (Rails, Basic Unix) Blog: http://random8.zenunit.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/random8r On 26/05/2009, at 7:07 PM, Robert Scott wrote:> > Tim, > > Thanks again for the detailed thoughts. It looks like your approach is > structured in a way that should handle what I''m looking for, and > provide > a framework for future expansion. I went ahead and implemented it in, > and am trying to resolve an issue now (NoMethodError (undefined method > `values_at'') for `search_array_with_hashes'' but I''ll let you know once > it gets working. > > Cheers! > > > > timr wrote: >> Hi again Robert, >> There might be methods build into rails for doing this, but when you >> have a very specific case, you might just roll out your own methods >> to >> get exactly what you want: >> >> =begin >> given a data structure like @contacts >> [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id >> 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => >> 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] >> and given a query may be first, last, or both names >> return id number for matches >> =end >> >> #here is our search array >> @contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id => >> 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => >> 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}, >> {:first_name=>''shim'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 4}] >> >> #method to separate names if more than one is given >> def parse_query(query) >> if query.match(" ") >> name1, name2 = query.split(/ /) >> else >> name1 = query >> return name1.to_a >> end >> return [name1, name2] >> end >> >> #find any name in hash field and return the ids >> def search_array_with_hashes(array_with_name_or_names) >> @hits = [] >> #search first names >> array_with_name_or_names.each do |name| >> @contacts.each do |hash| >> @hits << hash[:id] if hash.values.include?(name) >> end >> end >> @hits.uniq >> end >> >> #usage/test case examples >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("band")) >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("tim rand")) >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("crand")) >> # >> [2] >> # >> [1] >> # >> [3, 4] >> >> Will that do the trick? >> Tim >> >> On May 25, 1:23�am, Robert Scott <rails-mailing-l...@andreas-s.net> > > -- > 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@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Julian solution is more elegant. I like it. It has a functional difference in that it catches partial names--for instance tim would match to timothy (probably good in this case)--but rand would match crand. That being the case searching tim matches [1], but tim rand matches [1,3]. More information leads to less specificity. when a perfect match is available, that should be the only item returned--i would think. On May 27, 3:48 am, Julian Leviston <jul...-AfxEtdRqmE/tt0EhB6fy4g@public.gmane.org> wrote:> Sorry, but that code below is really unidiomatic ruby. > > Given the following: > > >> given a data structure like @contacts > >> [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id > >> 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => > >> 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] > >> and given a query may be first, last, or both names > >> return id number for matches > > @contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id => 1}, > {:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id =>2}, > {:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] > > keywords = "ran" > @contacts.select{|hash| keywords.split.any?{|keyword| > hash.values.join.include?(keyword)}}.map{|hash| hash[:id]} > > # or more prettily: > > @contacts.select do |hash| > keywords.split.any? do |keyword| > hash.values.join.include?(keyword) > end > end. # note the period at the end of this line... indicating we still > want to send the result of this select method another message yet... > (ie the map message below). > map do |hash| > hash[:id] > end > > => [1, 3] > > if you really need to make a method of it (tho I don''t know why you > would), you can do so thusly: > > class ArrayOfHashes < Array > def search_array_with_hashes(keywords) > found_hashes = self.select{|hash| keywords.split.any?{|keyword| > hash.values.join.include?(keyword)}} > found_hashes.map{|hash| hash[:id]} > end > end > > @contacts = ArrayOfHashes.new(@contacts) > > @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("ran") > => [1, 3] > @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("band") > => [2] > @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("tim rand") > => [1, 3] > @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("crand") > => [3] > @contacts.search_array_with_hashes("jam") > => [] > > >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("band")) > >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("tim rand")) > >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("crand")) > > ---------------------------------------------- > Learn:http://sensei.zenunit.com/ > Last updated 20-May-09 (Rails, Basic Unix) > Blog:http://random8.zenunit.com/ > Twitter:http://twitter.com/random8r > > On 26/05/2009, at 7:07 PM, Robert Scott wrote: > > > > > > > Tim, > > > Thanks again for the detailed thoughts. It looks like your approach is > > structured in a way that should handle what I''m looking for, and > > provide > > a framework for future expansion. I went ahead and implemented it in, > > and am trying to resolve an issue now (NoMethodError (undefined method > > `values_at'') for `search_array_with_hashes'' but I''ll let you know once > > it gets working. > > > Cheers! > > > timr wrote: > >> Hi again Robert, > >> There might be methods build into rails for doing this, but when you > >> have a very specific case, you might just roll out your own methods > >> to > >> get exactly what you want: > > >> =begin > >> given a data structure like @contacts > >> [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id > >> 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => > >> 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}] > >> and given a query may be first, last, or both names > >> return id number for matches > >> =end > > >> #here is our search array > >> @contacts = [{:first_name=>''tim'', :last_name=>''rand'', :id => > >> 1},{:first_name=>''jim'', :last_name=>''band'', :id => > >> 2},{:first_name=>''him'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 3}, > >> {:first_name=>''shim'', :last_name=>''crand'', :id => 4}] > > >> #method to separate names if more than one is given > >> def parse_query(query) > >> if query.match(" ") > >> name1, name2 = query.split(/ /) > >> else > >> name1 = query > >> return name1.to_a > >> end > >> return [name1, name2] > >> end > > >> #find any name in hash field and return the ids > >> def search_array_with_hashes(array_with_name_or_names) > >> @hits = [] > >> #search first names > >> array_with_name_or_names.each do |name| > >> -ivL3v7u5QkzcReiJfGmhNQ@public.gmane.org do |hash| > >> @hits << hash[:id] if hash.values.include?(name) > >> end > >> end > >> -7VLTaQVQYTmB9iRRDfJ2cw@public.gmane.org > >> end > > >> #usage/test case examples > >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("band")) > >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("tim rand")) > >> p search_array_with_hashes(parse_query("crand")) > >> # >> [2] > >> # >> [1] > >> # >> [3, 4] > > >> Will that do the trick? > >> Tim > > >> On May 25, 1:23 am, Robert Scott <rails-mailing-l...-ARtvInVfO7ksV2N9l4h3zg@public.gmane.org> > > > -- > > Posted viahttp://www.ruby-forum.com/.- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -