# Extend at This gem allows you to extend models without migrations: This way you can, i.e., develop your own content types, like in Drupal. ## Installation gem install extend_at ### Rails 3 Add in your Gemfile: gem 'extend_at' After that, you need execute: rails generate extend_at:install This will generate one migration with all necessary tables. ## Usage You don't need an extra column in your model. Only you need is put next code in your model. extend_at :extra For example: class User < ActiveRecord::Base extend_at :extra end Now you can create extra attributes: user.extra.private_photos = true user.extra.subscribe_to_news = false user.extra.profile_description = '' user.save This is the same: user.extra_private_photos = true user.extra_subscribe_to_news = false user.extra_profile_description = '' user.save Or: user[:extra_private_photos] = true user[:extra_subscribe_to_news] = false user[:extra_profile_description] = '' user.save ### Columns configuration You can configure each column. #### Set column type You can set the colum's type. class User < ActiveRecord::Base extend_at :extra, :columns => { :private_photos => { :type => :boolean }, :age => { :type => :get_type }, :profile_description => { :type => lambda { String } }, :last_loggin => { :type => Time.now.class }, :subscribe_to_rss => :get_rss_config } protected def get_type Fixnum end def get_rss_config { :type => :boolean } end end ##### Valid types Valid symbols: * :any * :binary * :boolean * :date * :datetime * :decimal * :float * :integer * :string * :text * :time * :timestamp But you can use classes. * Float: :any * Fixnum: :integer * String: :text * Time: :timestamp * Date: :datetime Else, return :any You can use any class, but if you need use boolean values, you must use :boolean. #### Set default value class User < ActiveRecord::Base extend_at :extra, :columns => { :private_photos => { :type => :boolean, :default => true }, :age => { :type => :get_type, :default => 1 }, :profile_description => { :type => lambda { String }, :default => :get_default_profile_description }, :last_loggin => { :type => Time.now.class, :default => lambda { self.created_at.time } }, :subscribe_to_rss => :get_rss_config } protected def get_type Fixnum end def get_rss_config { :type => :boolean, :default => true } end def get_default_profile_description Description.where(:user_id => self.id).default end end #### Set validation class User < ActiveRecord::Base extend_at :extra, :columns => { :private_photos => { :type => :boolean, :default => true }, :age => { :type => :get_type, :default => 1, :validate => lambda { |age| errors.add :extra_age, "Are you Matusalen?" if age > 150 errors.add :extra_age, "Are you a fetus?" if age <= 0 } }, :profile_description => { :type => lambda { String }, :default => :get_default_profile_description, :lambda => :must_not_use_strong_language }, :last_loggin => { :type => Time.now.class, :default => lambda { self.created_at.time }, :validate => lambda { |time| errors.add :extra_last_loggin, "You can't loggin on the future" if time > Time.now } }, :subscribe_to_rss => :get_rss_config } protected STRONG_WORD = [ #... ] def get_type Fixnum end def get_rss_config { :type => :boolean, :default => true } end def get_default_profile_description Description.where(:user_id => self.id).default end def must_not_use_strong_language(desc) errors.add :cofig_profile_description, "You must not use strong language" if desc =~ /(#{STRONG_WORD.join('|')})/ end end ### Scopes You can use scope like: User.extra_last_loggin_gt_eq(1.week.ago).extra_age_gt_eq(18).where(:column => "value").all Valid scopes: __ Comparations: * lt * lt_eq * eq * gt_eq * gt * match ### Integration in the views If you like to use some configuration variable in your views you only need put the name of the input like :extra_name, for example: <% form_for(@user) do |f| %> ...
<%= f.label :extra_private_photos %>
<%= f.check_box :extra_private_photos %>
... <% end %> ### Tips If you like to do something more dynamic, like create columns and validations depending of some model or configuration, then you can do something like this: class User < ActiveRecord::Base extend_at :extra, :columns => :get_columns serialize :columns_name protected def get_columns columns = {} columns_name.each do |name| config = ColumConfig.where(:user_id => self.id, :column => name).first columns[name.to_sym] = { :type => eval(config.class_type), :default => config.default_value, :validate => get_validation(config.validation) } end columns end # Accept a name of a validation and return the Proc with the validation code def get_validation(validation_type) # ... end end This code read the configuration of the columns when you access to the extra column. ## Bugs, recomendation, etc If you found a bug, create an issue. If you have a recomendation, idea, etc., create a request or fork the project. ## TODO: * RSpec test * Support static columns ## License This gem is under MIT license.