Using virtual attributes in ruby model.to_xml

If you have virtual attributes that you want to include in your to_xml call then you can override the to_xml on the model and pass the virtual attributes as methods. For example

class ModelName < ActiveRecord::Base

has_one :model_name_2

# real attributes a, b

attr_accessor :c, :d

delegate e, :to => :model_name_2

end

Now an instance (mn) of type ModelName calling to_xml will output

mn.to_xml

115true

Now to override the to_xml to include attributes c, d and e.

class ModelName < ActiveRecord::Base

has_one :model_name_2

class ModelName < ActiveRecord::Base

has_one :model_name_2

# real attributes a, b

attr_accessor :c, :d

delegate e, :to => :model_name_2

def to_xml

super(:methods => [:c, :d, e])

end

end

Now when to_xml is called on the model c, d and e will also be included.

mn.to_xml

115trueAnExamplefrom another model

more to_xml goodness at http://apidock.com/rails/ActiveRecord/Serialization/to_xml