collectiveidea / clear_empty_attributes
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Description: When Active Record objects are saved from a form, empty fields are saved as empty strings instead of nil. This kills most validations.
Homepage:
Clone URL: git://github.com/collectiveidea/clear_empty_attributes.git
Click here to lend your support to: clear_empty_attributes and make a donation at www.pledgie.com ! 
Update docs about rake task
brandon (author)
Thu Jan 15 22:18:57 -0800 2009
commit  3a8f3c2e09bc953e9b5b76b5101c3691cb84a9b2
tree    5d41d3edb2e994fbcb934fe1fe34d0e977b12acb
parent  e1d504c76e9a133d4f7c89748c6302066cdbd774
name age
history
message
file .gitignore Tue Dec 23 04:23:28 -0800 2008 its a gem now too... [grosser]
file README.markdown Thu Jan 15 22:18:57 -0800 2009 Update docs about rake task [brandon]
file Rakefile Thu Jan 15 21:50:08 -0800 2009 Updated echoe configuration and gemspec [brandon]
file clear_empty_attributes.gemspec Thu Jan 15 21:50:08 -0800 2009 Updated echoe configuration and gemspec [brandon]
file init.rb Mon Feb 05 06:55:52 -0800 2007 oops [brandon]
directory lib/ Mon Jun 16 04:17:06 -0700 2008 only set to nil if the value is a String and it... [brandon]
directory spec/ Thu Jan 15 04:59:05 -0800 2009 cleanup and usage of acts_as_fu for testing [grosser]
directory tasks/ Thu Jan 15 22:15:35 -0800 2009 Rename rake task to db:clear_empty_attributes a... [brandon]
README.markdown

Problem

When AR objects are saved, empty fields are saved as '' instead of nil.

  • Complicates queries for empty fields (WHERE field IS NULL OR field = '')
  • Makes the use of unless field.blank? necessary (opposed to only if field)
  • Can lead to late-detected bugs because most of the time strings were filled or '' and suddenly they are nil
  • Some validations do not support :allow_blank=>true
  • Databases can handle NULL better & faster than empty strings (especially when using LIKE)

Solution

Defines an AR before_validation that sets empty Strings to nil.

Install

script/plugin install git://github.com/collectiveidea/clear_empty_attributes.git
OR
sudo gem install collectiveidea-clear_empty_attributes

Migration

When you are switching to clear_empty_attributes, run this task to remove any '' strings/texts from your database.

rake db:clear_empty_attributes

(only works when checked out or installed as plugin)

TODO

Should work with update_attribute / write_attribute too