Displaying attributes before type casting upon model validation failure

Question

I have a form where the user can enter a number. The user should only enter whole numbers into the form and there is a model-level validation to check that. The data, of course, come in as a string in the params and are cast to the correct data type (int) by Rails.

If the user enters incorrect data into the particular form field, like a letter or decimal, the validations do not pass and the form is re-rendered. When the user is taken back to the form, however, the inputted data are not shown -- the cast data appear in the field. Is there any way to display the attributes before type casting back in the form upon validation failure?

Answer 1

There is a _before_type_cast helper in rails

You can use it like this:

u = User.first
u.phone
u.phone_before_type_cast

Alternatively in your form, you can populate the field with the value in params if its there.

Will help you more if you post the form code snippet