Dynamic Paths in Helper

Question

hello,

Im trying to create a helper method for my admin links. in quite a few views i have the code

<% if current_user %>
<%= link_to "Edit", edit_model_path(model) %>
<%= link_to "New", new_model_path %>
<%= link_to "Delete", model, :confirm => "Your a Noob",  :method
=> :delete %>
<% end %>

that only display these when logged in.

I would like to do something like this in their place

<%= admin_links(model) %>

and pass the current item into the application helper method

def admin_links(m)
 if current_user
  a = "#{link_to "edit" edit_m_path(m)}"
  a << "#{link_to "new" new_m_path}"
  a << "#{link_to "Delete", m, :confirm => "Your a Noob",  :method
=> :delete}"
 end
end

Or something of the like. Im not as skilled in the way of helpers but would like to be.

any help would be great.

Thanks in advance

Bob

Answer 1

basically you need to transform the class name of the model into something pointing to the correct path.

model_name = m.class.to_s.underscore

And then use it to call the appropriate path methods

link_to "edit", send("edit_#{model_name}_path", m)

As an aside, you don't need to put the link_tos in #{} because that function simply returns a string.

Answer 2

I would use a partial for this - instead of a helper. Wherever you want to display these links in your views, simply render the partial:

<%= render :partial => "admin_links", :locals => { :model => model } %>

In _admin_links.html.erb just paste the original code:

<% if current_user %>
  <%= link_to "Edit", edit_model_path(model) %>
  <%= link_to "New", new_model_path %>
  <%= link_to "Delete", model, :confirm => "Your a Noob", :method => :delete %>
<% end %>