Add querystring parameters to link_to

📝 Adding Querystring Parameters to link_to: A Complete Guide

Have you ever struggled with adding querystring parameters to the link_to method in Rails? You're not alone! This seemingly simple task can become confusing, especially when dealing with multiple parameters or preserving existing values.

In this guide, I will address common challenges and provide easy solutions to make your life easier. Let's dive in! 💪

🌟 Challenge #1: Setting a Specific Value for One Parameter While Preserving Another

Imagine you have two querystring parameters, bucket and sorting, and you want to set a specific value for bucket in a link_to while preserving the current value of sorting. Here's the solution:

<%= link_to "0", profiles_path(:bucket => '0', :sorting => params[:sorting]) %>

By using params[:sorting], you can pass the current value of sorting as a parameter while explicitly setting bucket to the desired value.

🌟 Challenge #2: Automatically Including Remaining Parameter Names and Values

Now let's say you have multiple querystring parameters, bucket, sorting, and page_size, and you want to set the value for bucket while including the names and values of the remaining parameters automatically. Here's the solution:

<%= link_to "0", profiles_path(params.merge(:bucket => '0')) %>

By using params.merge(:bucket => '0'), you can merge the current parameters with the new value for bucket. This approach automatically includes the names and values of the remaining parameters without having to specify them individually.

🌟 Challenge #3: Managing Page Size and Conditional UI Elements

When working with the will_paginate plugin, you might come across challenges in managing the page size and showing/hiding UI elements based on the existence of records.

To address this challenge, you can use the following approach:

<% if @records.present? %>
  <% [10, 20, 50].each do |page_size| %>
    <%= link_to page_size, profiles_path(params.merge(:page_size => page_size)) %>
  <% end %>
<% end %>

Here, we iterate over a predefined array of page sizes (e.g., 10, 20, 50) and create links for each size. We include the other querystring variables (i.e., page, bucket, sorting) automatically by merging them with the current parameters.

Additionally, we wrap this code in an if condition to only include the page size links if there are records to page.

🚀 Take Action and Enhance Your link_to Skills!

Congratulations, you've now mastered the art of adding querystring parameters to link_to! These solutions will save you time and frustration when dealing with complex URLs.

Go ahead and give them a try in your projects. Experiment, test, and unleash the power of link_to! 💥

If you have any more questions or want to share your experiences, feel free to leave a comment below. Let's level up our link_to skills together! 💪🔗