How do I run Ruby tasks that use my Rails models?

Question

I have a Rails app with some basic models. The website displays data retrieved from other sources. So I need to write a Ruby script that creates new instances in my database. I

Answer 1

I agree with the answer above but you have to include => :environment in your task or it will not load the Rails environment.

e.g.,

namespace :send do
  namespace :trial do
    namespace :expiry do
      desc "Sends out emails to people who's accounts are about to expire"
      task :warnings => :environment do
        User.trial_about_to_expire.has_not_been_notified_of_trial_expiry.each do |user|
          UserMailer.deliver_trial_expiring_warning(user)
          user.notified_of_trial_expiry = true
          user.save
        end
      end
    end
  end
end

Answer 2

Easiest way to run ruby tasks that interact with rails app/models is to make Rails generate Rake tasks for you!! :)

Here's an example

1. run rails g task my_namespace my_task

2. This will generate a file called lib/tasks/my_namespace.rake which looks like:

namespace :my_namespace do
desc "TODO: Describe your task here"
  task :my_task1 => :environment do
    #write any ruby code here and also work with your models
    puts User.find(1).name
  end
end

3. Run this task with rake my_namespace:my_task

4. Watch your ruby code task that interacts with rails modal run!

Answer 3

I wrote up a post about this a while back.

http://www.rawblock.com/2007/06/14/ruby-oracle-mac-os-x-pain-jruby-and-activerecord-jdbc-to-the-rescue/