Rails 2.3 uniqueness validation - how can I capture the value causing the error

Question

Hi - I'm trying to capture the value that's throwing a uniqueness error (or for that matter, any other type of built-in validation) to display it in the :message option. Here's what I tried (didn't work)

# inside the model
validate_uniqueness_of :name, :message => "#{name} has already been taken" # also tried using #{:name}

I could use a custom validation, but this beats the point of using something that's already integrated into AR. Any thoughts? thanks.

Answer 1

Try self.name

validates_uniqueness_of :name, :message => "#{self.name} has already been taken" # also tried using #{:name}

Also validate_uniqueness_of is wrong it should be validates_uniqueness_of

If this not works use validate method and comment line validates_uniqueness_of

 def validate
    name= User.find_by_name(self.name) #Assuming User is your Model Name
    unless name.blank?
      self.errors.add :base, "#{self.name} has already been taken"
    end
 end