create doc and add elements like tables and text

[skrithikaa]

Hi,

I am new to ruby programming. I would like to know how to create a document and add elements like texts and tables. I also need to modify those and then write them into a file.

Is it possible to do it with Ruby?

Thanks,
K

[phillipus_rex]

Hi,

I am new to ruby programming. I would like to know how to create a document and add elements like texts and tables. I also need to modify those and then write them into a file.

Is it possible to do it with Ruby?

Thanks,
K

All things are possible through Ruby. (or just about any other language for that matter).

Here's an article on creating and editing text files with Ruby: http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/..._Files_in_Ruby

You can add tables within views using Rails just like you would on any other website. Or, you can use CSS instead and pop your collar like all the other cool kids do.

[skrithikaa]

Hi,

Thanks for your suggestion. But I am purely using only RUBY. Could you please tell me how to create elements like (text, tables) in memory, then edit them in memory and finally print it on a file.

Thanks,
K

[ReggieB]

At its simplest form this does what you are asking for:

# A table is basically an array of arrays. So start by creating the 
# host array.
table = Array.new

# Then create some lines. Each line is itself an array
line1 = ['name', 'colour']
line2 = ['George', 'blue']
line3 = ['mary', 'grean']

# Then put the line arrays in the table array
table << line1
table << line2
table << line3

# Alter the second cell in the third line
# (note first line = 0, and first cell = 0)
third_line = 2
second_cell = 1
table[third_line][second_cell] = 'black'

# Create an output file
file_name = "output.txt"
File.delete(file_name) if File.exist?(file_name)
output_file = File.new(file_name, 'w+')

# Add the table info, and close
for line in table
  output_file.puts line.join(", ")
end
output_file.close

However, that is extremely simplistic and fails to use Ruby's object orientated splendidness. So although it works and is useful to demonstrate that what you ask for can be done, in reality you would package this up into classes to manage the process and make the code easier to maintain.

[ReggieB]

This is better:

class DataTable
  attr_accessor :current_line, :current_column
  attr_reader :file_name

  def initialize
    @table = Array.new
    @current_line = 0
    @current_column = 0
  end

  def add_line(*entries)
    @table << entries
  end

  def alter_current_cell(entry)
    @table[@current_line][@current_column] = entry
  end

  def output_to_file(file_name)
    @file_name = file_name
    create_file
    put_data_into_file
  end

  private
  def create_file
    File.delete(@file_name) if File.exist?(@file_name)
    File.new(@file_name, 'w+')
  end

  def put_data_into_file
    output_file = File.open(@file_name, 'w+')
    for line in @table
      output_file.puts line.join(", ")
    end
    output_file.close
  end
end

data_table = DataTable.new
data_table.add_line('Shape', 'Sides')
data_table.add_line('square', 'four')
data_table.add_line('triangle', 'six')
data_table.current_line = 2
data_table.current_column = 1
data_table.alter_current_cell('three')
data_table.output_to_file('output2.txt')

[skrithikaa]

Thanks! That code worked brilliant.
Is there a way to delete one of the elements / row of elements from the table?

Could you please explain how well OO concepts is implemented in the code.

Thanks in advance

[skrithikaa]

Is there a way to create doc in memory and then add the table elements to it?

[ReggieB]

Add this method to the class DataTable

  def remove_line(line_number)
    @table.delete_at(line_number)
  end

Then you can do this:

data_table = DataTable.new
data_table.add_line('Shape', 'Sides')
data_table.add_line('square', 'four')
data_table.add_line('triangle', 'six')
data_table.current_line = 2
data_table.current_column = 1
data_table.alter_current_cell('three')
data_table.output_to_file('output.txt')
data_table.remove_line(1)
data_table.output_to_file('output_without_line_1.txt')

Note again that the first line is line 0. Line 1 is the second line.

[skrithikaa]

Thanks you so much. I was wondering whether it is possible to include HTML feature into the existing code.

1. I need to provide formatting options to change the color and font of HTML text

2. HTML support in Tables elements should support the following:
Primary and Alternate row background colors.
Border on or off.
Color/Font settings for the text in the optional header.
Color/Font settings for the data rows.

3. Write the document to an HTML file.

Thanks in advance

[ReggieB]

Yes. All that is possible. You just need to invest some time in learning Ruby, HTML and CSS.

I'd recommend you either invest in the latest copy of Dave Thomas' "Programming Ruby" or at least read one of the on line original additions.

As for the HTML stuff: both of sitepoint's HTML and CSS references are a good place to start:

http://reference.sitepoint.com/html
http://reference.sitepoint.com/css

[skrithikaa]

Does CGI script helps for performing what I asked for or Using a module such as Haml or ERb help better?

[ReggieB]

If you want to serve web pages via a Ruby system, the simplest place to start is Rails.

You may find in the future that you use a different Ruby base technology to serve up web pages, but at the moment there is no better supported Ruby based web page server than Rails. Therefore, there is no better place to gain experience of Ruby for web page delivery than Rails.