Maurício Linhares wrote: > The "integer", "string" and "float" methods are just shorthands for > the column call using that type. > > It's also the "new way" (new since Rails 2, not that new now) of > writing migrations. And the "timestamps" will create both a created_at > and also an updated_at column. > > - > Maur�cio Linhares > http://alinhavado.wordpress.com/ (pt-br) | > http://codeshooter.wordpress.com/ (en)
Thanks Mauricio - I actually like it better than having to do things a long way. Anything shorter is better, IMO. I appreciate the explanation. I have one more question.. I've created a ruby program that actually parses raw statistics from the main NCAA web site, which I want to bring into my own database. So, using the example above.. here's an example of the parser I created: #== Scraper Version 1.0 # #*Created By:* _Elricstorm_ # # _Special thanks to Soledad Penades for his initial parse idea which I worked with to create the Scraper program. # His article is located at http://www.iterasi.net/openviewer.aspx?sqrlitid=wd5wiad-hkgk93aw8zidbw_ # require 'hpricot' require 'open-uri' # This class is used to parse and collect data out of an html element class Scraper attr_accessor :url, :element_type, :clsname, :childsearch, :doc, :numrows # Define what the url is, what element type and class name we want to parse and open the url. def initialize(url, element_type, clsname, childsearch) @url = url @element_type = element_type @clsname = clsname @childsearch = childsearch @doc = Hpricot(open(url)) @numrows = numrows end # Scrape data based on the type of element, its class name, and define the child element that contains our data def scrape_data @rows = [] (doc/"#...@element_type}.#{@clsname...@childsearch}").each do |row| cells = [] (row/"td").each do |cell| if (cell/" span.s").length > 0 values = (cell/"span.s").inner_html.split('<br />').collect{ |str| pair = str.strip.split('=').collect{|val| val.strip} Hash[pair[0], pair[1]] } if(values.length==1) cells << cell.inner_text.strip else cells << values.strip end elsif cells << cell.inner_text.strip end end @rows << cells end @rows.shift # Shifting removes the row containing the <th> table header elements. @rows.delete([]) # Remove any empty rows in our array of arrays. @numrows = @rows.length end def clean_celldata @ro...@numrows-1][0] = 120 end # Print a joined list by row to see our results def print_values puts "Number of rows = #{numrows}." for i in 0...@numrows-1 puts @rows[i].join(', ') end end # This method will be used to further process collected data def process_values File.open("testdata.txt", "w") do |f| for i in 0...@numrows-1 f.puts @rows[i].join(', ') end end puts "Processing completed." end end # In our search we are supplying the website url to parse, the type of element (ex: table), the class name of that element # and the child element that contains the data we wish to retrieve. offensive_rushing = Scraper.new('http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2008&rpt=IA_teamrush&site=org', 'table', 'statstable', '//tr') offensive_rushing.scrape_data offensive_rushing.clean_celldata offensive_rushing.print_values offensive_rushing.process_values ------------- So, the other question I have is how do I tie in the mechanics of a regular ruby program into rails? For instance, the ruby program I wrote requires hpricot.. I just need a bit of guidance (I catch on fast).. Someone can run the program I included to see how it outputs.. -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby on Rails: Talk" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
