How can I pass to Ruby obj to Javascript?

Question

I have this to calling the choose_category:

<% form_remote_tag :url => { :action => :choose_category, :id => category } do %> <%= submit_tag category.name%> <% end %>

And I have this method to calling the choose_category.js.rjs:

  def choose_category
    begin
      category               = Category.find(params[:id]) 
    rescue 
      ActiveRecord::RecordNotFound
      logger.error("Attempt to access invalid product #{params[:id]}") 
      # flash[:notice]      = "Invalid product" 
      redirect_to :action   => :index
    else
      respond_to { |format| format.js }    
      # redirect_to_index
    end
  end

I want to call back the category name, how can I do that? I try this, but it return nothing for me.

page.alert(@category.name)

Answer 1

I'm not sure of this since I'm not very familiar with js and rjs, but I would add to your rjs something like this:

category_name = <%= @category.name %>;

and then

page.alert(category_name)

or just:

page.alert(<%= @category.name %>)

Answer 2

If you can write your own JavaScript why not use the Ruby's to_json() method to output your object in JSON to an embedded constant on your page and then write some JavaScript to access this variable and manipulate as needed?

Answer 3

Your problem is that @category isn't defined in your RJS template.

RJS files are essentially views that generate Javascript. Like views, they have access to instance variables set in the controller, but not local variables.

Putting this in the begin section of your action should solve your problem.

@category               = Category.find(params[:id])