CODEWITHSUNDEEP
ruby-on-rails
user1943735
user1943735

Reputation: 155

How can I save parameters in my form?

For my search form, I'm using the solution here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/12622896/1943735

My search page looks like:

= simple_form_for search_query, :url => :search, do |f|
    = f.input :first_name
    = f.input :last_name
    ...

Table To Display Results is here

In my controller, I have this:

def search
    search_params = params[:search_query]
    @people = Result of some searching
end

The above code works, except that the user can't see what values they just typed in to the form and get only the results. The form renders again, and is now blank.

My attempt at the solution is:

def search
    search_params = params[:search_query]
    @people = Result of some searching
    @search_query = params[:search_query]
end

However, now the form throws a NoMethodError with undefined method 'first_name' for #<ActionController::Parameters:0x007fa5688aa268> at the line = f.input :first_name How can I pass my search_query back to the form?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 270

Answers (1)

Donovan
Donovan

Reputation: 15917

I think the trick here is to use a GET instead of a POST, that way those search parameters will remain visible in your view.

Here's an example straight out of a working app I wrote...

 def index
    authorize! :index, Employee

    params[:filter] ||= 'All' # Default to All Employees
    params[:search] ||= ''    # Default to blank
    page_title ||= params[:filter].titleize

    # Clear the search field if a filter option was selected
    if session[:employee_filter] != params[:filter]
      session[:employee_filter] = params[:filter]
      params[:search] = ''
    end

    # Generate an array of our filter elements (include all departments)
    @page_links = %w[All Featured Admins]
    Department.all.each do |department|
      @page_links << [department.title, department.name]
    end

    # Check and execute the filter option (defaults to All above)
    case params[:filter]
      when 'All'
        @employees  = Employee.search(params[:search]).by_name.page(params[:page]).per(15)
      when 'Featured'
        # We need this to be all on one page so that we can drag-and-drop position employees
        @employees  = Employee.search(params[:search]).is_featured.page(params[:page]).per(99999)
      when 'Admins'
        @employees  = Employee.search(params[:search]).admins.by_name.page(params[:page]).per(15)
        @page_title = 'Site Administrators'
      else
        @employees  = Employee.search(params[:search]).dept(params[:filter]).by_index.page(params[:page]).per(15)
    end

    @page_title ||= "#{page_title} Employees"
    @page_title = "'#{params[:search]}' in #{page_title}" unless params[:search].blank?

  end

And here's the search method in the Employee model:

 def self.search(search)
    if search
      results = where('last_name ILIKE ? OR first_name ILIKE ? OR email ILIKE ?', "%#{search}%", "%#{search}%", "%#{search}%")
      results = where('title ILIKE ?', "%#{search}%") if results.blank?
      results = joins(:location).where('locations.name ILIKE ?', "%#{search}%") if results.blank?
      return results
    end
  end

And, finally, the search form from the index (in HAML format):

.sort-index
  = form_tag admin_employees_path, method: 'get' do
    = select_tag :filter, options_for_select(@page_links, params[:filter]), onchange: "this.form.submit();"
    %br
    = text_field_tag :search, params[:search], placeholder: 'Search Name, Title, or Location', size: 35
    = submit_tag :search, name: nil, hidden: true

It's got some extra search stuff in there (such as additional filters), so let me know of that complicates it too much for you.

Upvotes: 1

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