accept nested attributes for has_many relationship

Question

Below are my two model classes

class Patient < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :user, :dependent => :destroy
  has_many :enrollments, :dependent =>          


        

Answer 1

In Rails 3 (not sure about previous versions) you don't even need to use accepts_nested_attributes_for to accomplish this. You can simply remove all the view code you listed and replace it with the following:

<%= patient_form.select(:client_ids, @clients.collect {|c| [ c.name, c.id ] }, {}, {:multiple => true})%>

Rails will do its magic (because of you named the select "client_ids") and it will just work.

Answer 2

I ended up doing the following:

<%= check_box_tag "patient[client_ids][]", client.id, @patient.clients.include?(client) %>

I am not sure if this is the best way...any comments (I had to update my model to include attr_accessible :client_ids

Answer 3

Instead of

:client_id

in the collection_select, try

"client_id[]"

The second form specifies that you're accepting an array of IDs for the attribute rather than a single one.

Here's a good resource on the usage of the select helpers in forms: http://shiningthrough.co.uk/Select-helper-methods-in-Ruby-on-Rails