module ActiveRecord # Store gives you a thin wrapper around serialize for the purpose of storing hashes in a single column. # It's like a simple key/value store backed into your record when you don't care about being able to # query that store outside the context of a single record. # # You can then declare accessors to this store that are then accessible just like any other attribute # of the model. This is very helpful for easily exposing store keys to a form or elsewhere that's # already built around just accessing attributes on the model. # # Make sure that you declare the database column used for the serialized store as a text, so there's # plenty of room. # # Examples: # # class User < ActiveRecord::Base # store :settings, accessors: [ :color, :homepage ] # end # # u = User.new(color: 'black', homepage: '37signals.com') # u.color # Accessor stored attribute # u.settings[:country] = 'Denmark' # Any attribute, even if not specified with an accessor # # # Add additional accessors to an existing store through store_accessor # class SuperUser < User # store_accessor :settings, :privileges, :servants # end module Store extend ActiveSupport::Concern module ClassMethods def store(store_attribute, options = {}) serialize store_attribute, Hash store_accessor(store_attribute, options[:accessors]) if options.has_key? :accessors end def store_accessor(store_attribute, *keys) Array(keys).flatten.each do |key| define_method("#{key}=") do |value| send(store_attribute)[key] = value end define_method(key) do send(store_attribute)[key] end end end end end end