gistfile1.rb

# base class for cached templates from the database
# each template has to be uniquely identified by its _name_ and _language_
module CachedTemplate
  # get a template _name_ in _language_
  # if the template can not be found in the right language,
  # use english and any language as fallback
  def self.find_by_language_and_name(klass,_language, _name)
    [_language, "en", nil ].each do |lang|
      conditions            = {:name => _name}
      conditions[:language] = lang if lang
      template = klass.find(:first, :conditions => conditions)

      return template if template.respond_to?(:render)
    end
    raise "Template #{_name} in language #{_language} not found."
  end

  # render the template with _local_assigns_ as instance variables
  def render(local_assigns = {})
    b=binding
    local_assigns.each { |k,v| instance_variable_set(:"@#{k.to_s}",v) }
    ERB::new(body).result(b)
  end
  
  def render_attribute(attribute, local_assigns = {})
    local_assigns.each { |k,v| instance_variable_set(:"@#{k.to_s}",v) }
    ERB::new(self.send(attribute)).result(binding)
  end
end