Data Noise

Probably the most boring task when writing Rails test cases is entering new fixtures. With a little help from TextMate this process can be made more pleasant.

• Open Bundle Editor and create a new command.
• Name it, for example, 'rails: new fixture'

• Use this script as the command body:

  #!/usr/local/bin/ruby
  require ENV['TM_SUPPORT_PATH'] + "/lib/exit_codes"
  unless ENV['TM_FILEPATH'] =~ /\/test/
    TextMate.exit_show_tool_tip  "you're not in the context of a rails project"
    exit 1
  else
    rails_dir = $`
    tbl_name = File.basename(ENV['TM_FILEPATH'], '.yml')
  end
  
  
  require 'rubygems'
  require 'active_record'
  eval "class #{tbl_name.classify} < ActiveRecord::Base; end", TOPLEVEL_BINDING
  model = tbl_name.classify.constantize
  
  
  conf = YAML.load(File.read(rails_dir + "/config/database.yml"))
  db_conf = conf['development']
  ActiveRecord::Base.establish_connection db_conf
  
  
  unless model.table_exists?
    TextMate.exit_show_tool_tip  "there is no table called #{tbl_name}"
    exit 1
  end
  
  
  columns = model.columns.map{|clm| clm.name}
  puts '${1:fixture_name}:'
  idx = 2
  columns.each do |c|
    puts "  #{c}: ${#{idx}}"
    idx += 1
  end
  puts '$0'
  

• Use None for the Command Input

• Use Insert as Snippet for the Command Output
• Activation should be set to Tab Trigger with the fix as the activation sequence.
• Source Selector must be set to source.yaml

Now, when the command is created, open your fixture file and enter fix followed by Tab key. TextMate will insert the template your new fixture with all column names specified. You can enter values for the first column and move to the next one by pressing Tab key.

New Fixture

This is not really a 'big deal' command, but it surely helps when entering a lot of fixtures.

Also, there is a simpler way of installing this command. Download this command file to your desktop and double-click it to install. The script in this file contains the implementation that is better optimized for Mysql database by avoiding using ActiveRecord library.

Enjoy.

New Fixture
From DB

UPDATE: Another useful command is to create a new fixture from a database record. When using this command it'll prompt you for the record id and then fill all columns with data from the database.