gistfile1.txt

# Here's a sample from one of my controllers:

def create
  @feed_search = FeedSearch.new(params[:feed_search])
  @feed_search.feeds = params[:feeds].delete_if{|url| url==""}.map{|url| Feed.find_or_initialize_by_url(url)}
  @user = (logged_in?) ? current_user : User.find_by_email_or_register(params[:feed_search][:email])
 
  # search needs activation if user isn't logged in
  @feed_search.state = (logged_in?) ? 'active' : 'pending'
 
  if @feed_search.save
    @result = logged_in? ? 'created' : @user.active? ? 'login' : 'signup'
    # associate the user and the search
    @user.feed_searches << @feed_search
  else
    @result = 'error'
  end
end

# NOTE: how about a respond_to module inside the controller 
# whose methods are the names of actions 
# (e.g. def create in the module v. def respond_to_create in the controller)
def respond_to_create
  respond_to do |format|
    if @result != 'error'       
      format.html { redirect_to feed_search_path(@feed_search) }
      format.xml  { render :xml => @feed_search, :status => :created, :location => @feed_search }
    else
      format.html { render :action => "new" }
      format.xml  { render :xml => @feed_search.errors, :status => :unprocessable_entity }
    end
  end
end