AttributeChoices

AttributeChoices is a plugin that simplifies the common pattern of mapping a set of discreet values for an ActiveRecord model attribute, to a set of display values for human consumption.

Installation

Rails 3

In your Gemfile add

gem 'attribute_choices'

Rails 2

In environment.rb add:

config.gem 'attribute_choices'

Usage

Define your model:

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  attribute_choices :gender,  { 'm' => "Male", 'f' => 'Female'}, :validate => true
  attribute_choices :age_group,  [
    ['18-24', '18 to 24 years old'], 
    ['25-45', '25 to 45 years old']
  ]
end

Then try this in the console:

>> @john # User.new :gender => 'm', :age_group => '18-24', :name => 'John'
>> @john.gender
=> 'm'
>> @john.gender_display
=> 'Male'
>> User.gender_choices
=> [["Male", 'm'], ['Female', 'f']]

>> @john.valid?
=> true
>> @john.gender # 'o'
>> @john.valid?
=> false

=> I18n.locale # :es
>> @john.gender_display
=> "translation missing: es, Male"

>> @john.age_group_display
=> '18 to 24 years old'
>> User.age_group_choices
=> [['18-24', '18 to 24 years old], ['25-45', '25 to 45 years old']]

ToDo

Validate absence of _display and _choices methods
Consider the usefulness of _choices# method