1 files changed, 18 insertions, 8 deletions
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_view/base.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_view/base.rb
index 945246a39a..0d3752d875 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_view/base.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_view/base.rb
@@ -234,16 +234,21 @@ module ActionView #:nodoc:
       @view_paths = self.class.process_view_paths(paths)
     end
 
-    # Renders the template present at <tt>template_path</tt> (relative to the view_paths array).
-    # The hash in <tt>local_assigns</tt> is made available as local variables.
+    # Returns the result of a render that's dictated by the options hash. The primary options are:
+    # 
+    # * <tt>:partial</tt> - See ActionView::Partials.
+    # * <tt>:update</tt> - Calls update_page with the block given.
+    # * <tt>:file</tt> - Renders an explicit template file (this used to be the old default), add :locals to pass in those.
+    # * <tt>:inline</tt> - Renders an inline template similar to how it's done in the controller.
+    # * <tt>:text</tt> - Renders the text passed in out.
+    #
+    # If no options hash is passed or :update specified, the default is to render a partial and use the second parameter
+    # as the locals hash.
     def render(options = {}, local_assigns = {}, &block) #:nodoc:
       local_assigns ||= {}
 
-      if options.is_a?(String)
-        render(:file => options, :locals => local_assigns)
-      elsif options == :update
-        update_page(&block)
-      elsif options.is_a?(Hash)
+      case options
+      when Hash
         options = options.reverse_merge(:locals => {})
         if options[:layout]
           _render_with_layout(options, local_assigns, &block)
@@ -256,6 +261,10 @@ module ActionView #:nodoc:
         elsif options[:text]
           options[:text]
         end
+      when :update
+        update_page(&block)
+      else
+        render_partial(:partial => options, :locals => local_assigns)
       end
     end
 
@@ -317,7 +326,8 @@ module ActionView #:nodoc:
           template
         elsif template = self.view_paths[template_file_name]
           template
-        elsif @_render_stack.first && template = self.view_paths["#{template_file_name}.#{@_render_stack.first.format_and_extension}"]
+        elsif (first_render = @_render_stack.first) && first_render.respond_to?(:format_and_extension) &&
+            (template = self.view_paths["#{template_file_name}.#{first_render.format_and_extension}"])
           template
         elsif template_format == :js && template = self.view_paths["#{template_file_name}.html"]
           @template_format = :html