2 files changed, 49 insertions, 13 deletions

diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/fixture_set/file.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/fixture_set/file.rb
index 8132310c91..f969556c50 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/fixture_set/file.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/fixture_set/file.rb
@@ -17,24 +17,39 @@ module ActiveRecord
 
       def initialize(file)
         @file = file
-        @rows = nil
       end
 
       def each(&block)
         rows.each(&block)
       end
 
+      def model_class
+        config_row['model_class']
+      end
 
       private
         def rows
-          return @rows if @rows
+          @rows ||= raw_rows.reject { |fixture_name, _| fixture_name == '_fixture' }
+        end
+
+        def config_row
+          @config_row ||= begin
+            row = raw_rows.find { |fixture_name, _| fixture_name == '_fixture' }
+            if row
+              row.last
+            else
+              {'model_class': nil}
+            end
+          end
+        end
 
-          begin
+        def raw_rows
+          @raw_rows ||= begin
             data = YAML.load(render(IO.read(@file)))
+            data ? validate(data).to_a : []
           rescue ArgumentError, Psych::SyntaxError => error
             raise Fixture::FormatError, "a YAML error occurred parsing #{@file}. Please note that YAML must be consistently indented using spaces. Tabs are not allowed. Please have a look at http://www.yaml.org/faq.html\nThe exact error was:\n  #{error.class}: #{error}", error.backtrace
           end
-          @rows = data ? validate(data).to_a : []
         end
 
         def render(content)
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/fixtures.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/fixtures.rb
index f1dc56df63..59df3c78f3 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/fixtures.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/fixtures.rb
@@ -395,6 +395,20 @@ module ActiveRecord
   #     <<: *DEFAULTS
   #
   # Any fixture labeled "DEFAULTS" is safely ignored.
+  #
+  # == Configure the fixture model class
+  #
+  # It's possible to set the fixture's model class directly in the YAML file.
+  # This is helpful when fixtures are loaded outside tests and
+  # +set_fixture_class+ is not available (e.g.
+  # when running <tt>rake db:fixtures:load</tt>).
+  #
+  #   _fixture:
+  #     model_class: User
+  #   david:
+  #     name: David
+  #
+  # Any fixtures labeled "_fixture" are safely ignored.
   class FixtureSet
     #--
     # An instance of FixtureSet is normally stored in a single YAML file and
@@ -578,21 +592,16 @@ module ActiveRecord
       @name     = name
       @path     = path
       @config   = config
-      @model_class = nil
 
-      if class_name.is_a?(Class) # TODO: Should be an AR::Base type class, or any?
-        @model_class = class_name
-      else
-        @model_class = class_name.safe_constantize if class_name
-      end
+      self.model_class = class_name
+
+      @fixtures = read_fixture_files(path)
 
       @connection  = connection
 
       @table_name = ( model_class.respond_to?(:table_name) ?
                       model_class.table_name :
                       self.class.default_fixture_table_name(name, config) )
-
-      @fixtures = read_fixture_files path, @model_class
     end
 
     def [](x)
@@ -761,13 +770,25 @@ module ActiveRecord
         @column_names ||= @connection.columns(@table_name).collect(&:name)
       end
 
-      def read_fixture_files(path, model_class)
+      def model_class=(class_name)
+        if class_name.is_a?(Class) # TODO: Should be an AR::Base type class, or any?
+          @model_class = class_name
+        else
+          @model_class = class_name.safe_constantize if class_name
+        end
+      end
+
+      # Loads the fixtures from the YAML file at +path+.
+      # If the file sets the +model_class+ and current instance value is not set,
+      # it uses the file value.
+      def read_fixture_files(path)
         yaml_files = Dir["#{path}/{**,*}/*.yml"].select { |f|
           ::File.file?(f)
         } + [yaml_file_path(path)]
 
         yaml_files.each_with_object({}) do |file, fixtures|
           FixtureSet::File.open(file) do |fh|
+            self.model_class ||= fh.model_class if fh.model_class
             fh.each do |fixture_name, row|
               fixtures[fixture_name] = ActiveRecord::Fixture.new(row, model_class)
             end