Rails Model without a table

Question

I want to create a select list for lets say colors, but dont want to create a table for the colors. I have seen it anywhere, but can\'t find it on google.

My questi

Answer 1

The answers are fine for 2013 but since Rails 4 all the database independent features of ActiveRecord are extracted into ActiveModel. Also, there's an awesome official guide for it.

You can include as many of the modules as you want, or as little.

As an example, you just need to include ActiveModel::Model and you can forgo such an initialize method:

def initialize(attributes = {})
  attributes.each do |name, value|
    send("#{name}=", value)
  end
end

Just use:

attr_accessor :name, :age

Answer 2

The easiest answer is simply to not subclass from ActiveRecord::Base. Then you can just write your object code.

Answer 3

If you want to have a select list (which does not evolve) you can define a method in your ApplicationHelper that returns a list, for example:

 def my_color_list
   [
     "red",
     "green",
     "blue"
   ]
 end

Answer 4

If the reason you need a model without an associated table is to create an abstract class real models inherit from - ActiveRecord supports that:

class ModelBase < ActiveRecord::Base
  self.abstract_class = true
end

Answer 5

class Model

  include ActiveModel::Validations
  include ActiveModel::Conversion
  extend ActiveModel::Naming

  attr_accessor :whatever

  validates :whatever, :presence => true

  def initialize(attributes = {})
    attributes.each do |name, value|
      send("#{name}=", value)
    end
  end

  def persisted?
    false
  end

end

attr_accessor will create your attributes and you will create the object with initialize() and set attributes.

The method persisted will tell there is no link with the database. You can find examples like this one: http://railscasts.com/episodes/219-active-model?language=en&view=asciicast

Which will explain you the logic.