find_or_create_by in Rails 3 and updating for creating records

Question

I\'m not sure if I should be updating records this way or if I\'m missing something.

I have a table with 5 columns (not including timestamps and id) 3 of which are d

Answer 1

Here is two approaches.

First you can extend Available with exact method you need:

def self.find_or_create_by_room_id_and_bookdate_and_source(room_id, bookdate, source, &block)
  obj = self.find_by_room_id_and_bookdate_and_source( room_id, bookdate, source ) || self.new(:room_id => room_id, :bookdate => bookdate, :source => source)
  yield obj
  obj.save
end

usage

Available.find_or_create_by_room_id_and_bookdate_and_source(room.id, (params[:date].to_date)+index, data.class.to_s) do |c|
  c.price = night.price
  c.spots = night.spots
end

This is awkward. So for being more flexible you can create update_or_create_by... method for ActiveRecord using method_missing magic:

class ActiveRecord::Base
  def self.method_missing(method_id, *args, &block)
    method_name = method_id.to_s
    if method_name =~ /^update_or_create_by_(.+)$/
      update_or_create($1, *args, &block)
    else
      super
    end
  end
  def self.update_or_create(search, *args, &block)
    parameters = search.split("_and_")
    params = Hash[ parameters.zip(args) ]
    obj = where(params).first || self.new(params)
    yield obj
    obj.save
    obj
  end
end

So now you can use it:

Available.update_or_create_by_id_and_source(20, "my_source") do |a|
  a.whatever = "coooool"
end