Searchify ========= This is a Rails plugin which adds some search functionality to models. It also includes a javascript file and helper methods for building a dynamic search form. Installation ------------ If you are running edge rails you can install the plugin straight from the repository: script/plugin install git://github.com/ryanb/searchify.git Otherwise you can install it with this command: git clone --depth=1 git://github.com/ryanb/searchify.git vendor/plugins/searchify To use the dynamic form you need to install a javascript file using this command: script/generate searchify_javascript Requirements ------------ This plugin uses the "paginate" method to perform a search on the model, so you need to install the will_paginate plugin/gem. Currently only MySQL is fully supported. It may work on other database engines, just not as well. Instructions ------------ You can use the "searchify" method in your model class to enable it for searching. Pass the columns you want to search to this method. class Product < ActiveRecord::Base searchify :name, :description, :price, :created_at, :discontinued end You can then use the "search" method to search all or some of these columns. Here are some examples. Product.search(:name => 'Puzzle', :description => '%forest%') # use percent sign for partial search Product.search(:all => 'blue puzzle') # searches for partial word "blue" and "puzzle" in all columns Product.search(:created_at_from => '2008-01-01', :created_at_to => '2008-02-01') Product.search(:price_operator => '<', :price => '40') # changes the comparison operator Product.search(:page => 5, :per_page => 20, :order => 'name') # pass other options besides conditions The searchify also allows you to include associations in the search. For example: class Category < ActiveRecord::Base has_many :products searchify :name, :products => [:name, :description] end To search the product columns you need to prefix them with "products_" like this: Category.search(:products_name => 'Big Ben') # finds all categories with a product called Big Ben Category.search(:all => 'puzzle') # product columns are included The main benefit of this plugin is how easy it is to add a dynamic search. You can use the searchify_fields_for helper method to generate dynamic fields for searching. Like this: <% form_tag products_path, :method => 'get' do %> <%= searchify_fields_for Product %> <p><%= submit_tag 'Search', :name => nil, :onclick => 'return searchify_submit()' %></p> <% end %> Make sure you have the prototype libraries included and it should allow you to dynamically add and remove fields. Pretty cool huh? --- Copyright (c) 2008 Ryan Bates, released under the MIT license