Userstamp

Fork Details

This is a fork of the grosser fork [github.com/grosser/userstamp] of the original userstamp plugin created by delynn [github.com/delynn/userstamp].

This fork has been created to combine the grosser changes that enable use of the plugin within applications that perform soft deletes but are not using the acts_as_paranoid plugin/gem (for example this fork can now be used in conjunction with the rails3_acts_as_paranoid plugin/gem [github.com/goncalossilva/rails3_acts_as_paranoid]).

This fork also includes changes to perform the model stamping before validation is performed so that the model can enforce the presence of stamp attribute values eg.

validates:created_by, presence:truevalidates:updated_by, presence:true

Using the Fork

To use this fork add the following to your application gemfile:

gem'originator', github:'AlchemyCMS/originator'

Overview

Userstamp extends ActiveRecord::Base to add automatic updating of ‘creator’, ‘updater’, and ‘deleter’ attributes. It is based loosely on the ActiveRecord::Timestamp module.

Two class methods (model_stamper and stampable) are implemented in this plugin. The model_stamper method is used in models that are responsible for creating, updating, or deleting other objects. The stampable method is used in models that are subject to being created, updated, or deleted by ‘stampers’.

Usage

The assumption is that you have two different categories of objects; those that manipulate, and those that are manipulated. For those objects that are being manipulated there’s the Stampable module and for the manipulators there’s the Stamper module. There’s also the actual Userstamp module for your controllers that assists in setting up your environment on a per request basis.

Example

Assume a weblog application has User and Post objects. # 1: Create the migrations for these objects

classCreateUsers<ActiveRecord::Migrationdefself.upcreate_table:users, :force=>truedo|t|...t.userstamps# use t.userstamps(true) if you also want 'deleter_id'endenddefself.downdrop_table:usersendendclassCreatePosts<ActiveRecord::Migrationdefself.upcreate_table:posts, :force=>truedo|t|...t.userstamps# use t.userstamps(true) if you also want 'deleter_id'endenddefself.downdrop_table:postsendend

# 2: Users are going to manipulate Post’s, use the model_stamper:

classUser<ActiveRecord::Basemodel_stamperend

# 3: Set the current user in the ApplicationController:

classApplicationController<ActionController::BaseincludeUserstampend

More than likely you want all your associations setup on your stamped objects, and that’s where the stampable class method comes in. So in our example we’ll want to use this method in both our User and Post classes:

classUser<ActiveRecord::Basemodel_stamperstampableendclassPost<ActiveRecord::Basestampableend

Okay, so what all have we done? The model_stamper class method injects two methods into the User class. They are #stamper= and #stamper and look like this:

defstamper=(object)
object_stamper = ifobject.is_a?(ActiveRecord::Base)
object.send("#{object.class.primary_key}".to_sym)
elseobjectendThread.current["#{self.to_s.downcase}_#{self.object_id}_stamper"] = object_stamperenddefstamperThread.current["#{self.to_s.downcase}_#{self.object_id}_stamper"]
end

The stampable method allows you to customize what columns will get stamped, and also creates the creator, updater, and deleter associations.

The Userstamp module that we included into our ApplicationController uses the setter method to set which user is currently making the request. By default the ‘set_stampers’ method works perfectly with the RestfulAuthentication plug-in:

defset_stampersUser.stamper = self.current_userend

If you aren’t using ActsAsAuthenticated, then you need to create your own version of the set_stampers method in the controller where you’ve included the Userstamp module.

Now, let’s get back to the Stampable module (since it really is the interesting one). The Stampable module sets up before_* filters that are responsible for setting those attributes at the appropriate times. It also creates the belongs_to relationships for you.

If you need to customize the columns that are stamped, the stampable method can be completely customized. Here’s an quick example:

class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
stampable :stamper_class_name => :person,
:creator_attribute => :create_user,
:updater_attribute => :update_user,
:deleter_attribute => :delete_user,

:deleter => true

end

Upgrade from 1.x

# config/environment.rbDdb::Userstamp.compatibility_mode = true

Example userstamp application

Running Unit Tests

All: rake
One: ruby test/compatibility_stamping_test.rb

Author

DeLynn Berry

The original idea for this plugin came from the Rails Wiki article entitled Extending ActiveRecord.

Contributors / maintenance / enhancement

• Michael Grosser

• John Dell

• Chris Hilton