flash partial

application.js

// add a flash message
//
  App.flash = function(msg, options){
    options = options || {};
    var flash = jQuery('.flash');

    var template = App.templates['flash-list-item'];
    var data = {'message' : msg};
    var message = jQuery.tmpl(template, data);

    var dismiss = message.find('.dismiss');

    dismiss.click(function(){ message.remove() });

    message.addClass(options.class || 'info');
    flash.append(message);
    return(message);
  };



// find and pre-compile all jQuery templates on the page. cache them by name.
//
  var templates = {};
  jQuery('script.template').each(function(){
    var j = jQuery(this);
    var name = j.attr('name');
    var html = j.html();
    App.templates[name] = jQuery.template(name, html);
  });


// usage (from javascript)
//
// App.flash('a flash message!')
//
// App.flash('an error!', {'class' : 'error'})
//

flash.html.erb

<%
  flash = self.flash  ### see http://groups.google.ca/group/rubyonrails-talk/browse_thread/thread/8e54e4bc3c2b4366
  keys = [:info, :notice, :error, :success]
  javascript = []

  unless flash[:hide]
    keys.each do |key|
      message = flash[key]
      next if message.blank?
      javascript.push("App.flash(#{ message.to_json }, {'class' : #{ key.to_json }});")
    end
  end

  keys.each{|key| self.flash[key] = nil}
%>

<ul class='flash'>
  <script class='template' name='flash-list-item' type='text/x-jquery-tmpl'>
    <li>
      <span class='message'>{{html message}}</span>
      <a class='dismiss' href='javascript:void(42)'>dismiss</a>
    </li>
  </script>

  <script>
    jQuery(function(){
      <%= raw(javascript.join("\n")) %>
    });
  </script>
</ul>

<noscript>
  <ul class="flash">
    <li class="error">
      <span class="message">You need javascript enabled for the internet to function properly.</span>
    </li>
  </ul>
</noscript>