Search on multiple keywords in a single search text field (RAILS)

Question

I\'m fairly new and playing around with searching databases in Rails. I have a model and database that has a list of names under the \'name\' attribute. I want to be able to

Answer 1

Use something like this:

find(:all, :conditions => [(['name LIKE ?'] * search_length).join(' AND ')] + search.split.map { |name| "%#{name}" })

I looks strange but, first generate search_length times string 'name LIKE ?':

 ['name LIKE ?'] * search_length

then you have array with some keys, so let's join all of them with ' AND ':

 ["name LIKE ? ", "name LIKE ? ", "name LIKE ? "].join(' AND ')

and finally merge with another array.

Answer 2

The code from Łukasz Śliwa works great if you close the name variable with the other % sign.

The complete code from above working for me. Great post.

def self.search(search)

  if search
    search_length = search.split.length
    find(:all, :conditions => [(['name LIKE ?'] * search_length).join(' AND ')] + search.split.map { |name| "%#{name}%" })
  else
    find(:all)
  end

end

Answer 3

formatted_columns = format_column_names(Sub.column_names)
where(formatted_columns.map {|cn| "#{cn} like ?" }.join("or "), *(["%#{search}%"] * formatted_columns.size))

this takes care of all columns as well as the correct amount of fields