gistfile1.js

# rails controller action renders text like this
render :text => "alert('#{messages}');"

# in response to a request that calls this js function onclick.
function saveAsReport() {
        if (!currently_saving) {
                var name = prompt('Please enter a name for this new report.', $('report_name').value);
                if (name != null) {
                        $('report_name').value = name;
                        currently_saving = true;
                        var querystring = $('queryForm').serialize();
                        var url = '/reports/create';
                        new Ajax.Request(url, {
                                method: 'post',
                                parameters: querystring,
                                onSuccess: function(response) {
                                        //closeSaveModal();
                                        eval(response.responseText);
                                        currently_saving = false;
                                        report_is_updated = false;
                                        $('save_btn').style.display = "none";
                                }
                        });
                }
        }
}