From: Robert Klemme <bob.news@...>
Date: 2005-04-21T23:14:32+09:00
Subject: Re: accessor for Class Variable


"Leonardo Francalanci" <lfrancalanci@simtel.it> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:4267B13A.20905@simtel.it...
> I know it's a stupid question, but I can't find the answer...
>
> Isn't there another way to have an accessor for a class variable than a
> "def"??? Something like "attr_reader"?

Not AFAIK.

> class Outing < ActiveRecord::Base
> @@planingList = [ "YES", "NO", "YES/NO"]
>
>    def Outing.wind_directionList
>   return @@wind_directions
>    end
> end

In your case you could as well do

class Outing < ActiveRecord::Base
  @planingList = [ "YES", "NO", "YES/NO"]

  class<<self; attr_reader :planingList end
end

>> Outing.planingList
=> ["YES", "NO", "YES/NO"]

Class variables are really only useful if you want to access them from
instances and from the class in a similar way (via "@@var_name").
Otherwise they have more drawbacks than pros so I avoid to use them
whenever I can.  (Can't really remember a case where I actually needed
them.)

Kind regards

    robert