Rails - link_to path based on object value

Question

I have a list of User objects in an index view. For each user, I am displaying a name with a link_to call for editing the user like so:

<% @users.each do |u| %>
  <%= link_to u.name, edit_user_path(u) %><br/>
<% end %>

I want to use a different edit path based on the user's role attribute (e.g. employee, manager, etc). I have edit_employee_path, edit_manager_path, etc in my routes.

What's the best way dynamically determine the 2nd parameter to link_to? I can hack this up with a bunch of ugly if/else code but I want to do it the most idiomatic Rails way.

what is your controller and actions to where you want to make routing? — Ganesh Kunwar
– Ganesh Kunwar, Commented Apr 2, 2013 at 18:42

Abid · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-02 18:43:35Z

5

how about a helper method

in your may be users_helper or any other helper of your choice

def edit_path_by_type(user)
   user.role == "Employee" ? edit_employee_path(user) : edit_manager_path(user)
end

and in your view

<%= link_to u.name, edit_path_by_type(u) %>

answered Apr 2, 2013 at 18:43

Abid

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Stuart M · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-02 18:43:46Z

2

You could use a Helper module to determine the *_path method to run. For example:

module UsersHelper
  def edit_url(user)
    case user.role
    when :employee
      employee_edit_path(user)
    when :manager
      manager_edit_path(user)
    else
      edit_user_path(user)
    end
  end
end

If your path methods are named in a very consistent way, you might be able to invoke a dynamically-constructed method, such as:

<%= link_to u.name, send(:"#{u.role}_user_edit_path", u) %><br/>

but you'd need to be careful that a method with the appropriate name always exists.

answered Apr 2, 2013 at 18:43

Stuart M

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3 Comments

user229044 Over a year ago

I don't know how "careful" you'd need to be; validations should prevent your role from ever containing a value that isn't supported by a path helper. I guess that's sort of careful.

Stuart M Over a year ago

Yeah, I guess having validations to begin with could be considered "being careful" here

andrunix Over a year ago

Exactly what I need Stuart M. Thanks!

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