Forms fields pre-populating w/ first record's values

[clem_c_rock]

I have a strange situation. I want to have a create_user form w/ all the fields blank

When I call the create_user method, the corresponding create_user.html.erb form is displaying the first
record's data from the user table in the form fields

Here's a quick view of my form:

<% form_tag('create_user') do -%>
   <%=hidden_field("user", "id") %> (<%=params[:id] %>)
   <p><label for="fname">First Name</label><br/>
    <%=text_field("user", "fname") %></p>
    
   <p><label for="lname">Last Name</label><br/>
    <%=text_field("user", "lname") %></p>
  <%=submit_tag("Create") %> 
<% end -%>

When that form loads, it is populated w/ the First and last name from the first user record in the db.

Anyway around this - I've tried everything I can think of.

Thanks,
Clem

[Mittineague]

I don't know if this will help as I'm pretty much a newbie. But the forms I have in various tutorials I've tried don't have the "minus" as in "do -%>" i.e.

<%= error_messages_for 'story' %>
<% form_for @story do |f| %>
  <p>
    name:<br />
    <%= f.text_field :name %>
  </p>
  <p>
    link:<br />
    <%= f.text_field :link %>
  </p>
  <p>
    description:<br />
    <%= f.text_area :description %>
  </p>
  <p>
    tags:<br />
    <%= f.text_field :tag_list %>
  </p>
  <p>
    <%= submit_tag %>
  </p>
<% end %>

<h1>Editing forum</h1>
 
<%= error_messages_for :forum %>
 
<% form_for(@forum) do |f| %>
  <p>
    <b>Name</b><br />
    <%= f.text_field :name %>
  </p>
 
  <p>
    <b>Description</b><br />
    <%= f.text_area :description %>
  </p>
 
  <p>
    <%= f.submit "Update" %>
  </p>
<% end %>
 
<%= link_to 'Show', @forum %> |
<%= link_to 'Back', forums_path %>

<h1>Add new book</h1> 
<% form_for :book, @book, :url => { :action => "create" } do |f| %> 
<p> 
Title: 
<%= f.text_field :title %> 
</p> 
 
<p> 
Price: 
<%= f.text_field :price %> 
</p> 
 
<p> 
Subject: 
<%= f.collection_select :subject_id, @subjects, :id, :name %> 
</p> 
 
<p> 
Description: 
<%= f.text_area :description %> 
</p> 
 
<p> 
<%= f.submit "Create"%> 
</p> 
 
<% end %> 
 
<%= link_to 'Back', {:action => 'list'} %>

[ReggieB]

I don't know if this will help as I'm pretty much a newbie. But the forms I have in various tutorials I've tried don't have the "minus" as in "do -%>"

All the minus sign does is suppress the carriage return inserted by Rails after the %>. I use it a lot as I think it makes the output code more readable.

For example:

<td><%= some_information %></td>

produces:

<td>stuff
</td>

Whereas:

<td><%= some_information -%></td>

produces:

<td>stuff</td>

So -%> is a great thing to use after <%=, but actually in most loop and logic enties such as <% end %> its usually clearer to leave off the minus sign as it can cause the next line of code to be appended onto the one before the statement making it less clear to read.

[ReggieB]

When I call the create_user method, the corresponding create_user.html.erb form is displaying the first
record's data from the user table in the form fields

I expect the problem is in your controller. Can you post that code?

[calkie_f]

Also try using another browser to see if your main browser's auto-completion is kicking in. View source, do you see the values pre-filled in the HTML?

[Megapixelicious]

My first question would be: why isnt your controller using the REST approach?

New content should have their form filled with the NEW action and the CREATE action creates the actual content in the DB (then redirect to something else). CREATE actions dont have views associated with them (usually).

I know this is not a solution to your problem, but it would improve the design of your app.

Also, why is there a hidden field in the form with an ID? And what is this ID anyway if it is supposed to be a blank form?

As for your issue, please post the controller action + any before filters.

[clem_c_rock]

Hello - this was a total newbie question and was solved by using Address.new in the controller and all was good.

Thanks for everyone's help