Rails: How can a user input data into an Active Record Query?

Question

I read through the API for Active Record Querying, but it doesn\'t seem to include a method for the user to actually input search data. I assume I could somehow link_to a method

Answer 1

the simple way to do it is

Model.find(:all, :conditions => ['name LIKE ?', "%#{search}%"])

in View

<% form_tag projects_path, :method => 'get' do %>
  <p>
    <%= text_field_tag :search, params[:search] %>
    <%= submit_tag "Search", :name => nil %>
  </p>
<% end %>

In Controller

def index
  @projects = Project.search(params[:search])
end

In Models

def self.search(search)
  if search
    find(:all, :conditions => ['name LIKE ?', "%#{search}%"])
  else
    find(:all)
  end
end