From: Ryan Leavengood <mrcode@...>
Date: 2005-06-05T03:07:34+09:00
Subject: Re: Calling a procedure with dinamyc name

Marcelo Paniagua wrote:
> Hi there!
> 
>  I'm using Kirbybase database and it has the peculiar way to access 
> fields data though methods. Is it posible to call such methods
> passing the fieldname in a dinamic way?
> 
> instead of
> 
> client_id = table.client_id
> 
> I would like to use sometime like
> 
> field = 'client_id'
> client_id = table.field or something like that.

There are at least two basic options:

1. Call Object#send:

    field = 'client_id'
    client_id = table.send(field)

2. Use Object#method to get a method, then call it:

    field = 'client_id'
    method = table.method(field)
    method.call

>   This is also applicable to a program that I'm developing, in which I 
> want to find if a class has a given method...  for example, I want to
> find if a class Card  has an "onplay" method.
> Thanks

You can ask an instance of Card if it responds to that method:

    card = Card.new
    if card.respond_to?('onplay')
       # Do something
    end

You may also want to research the method 'method_missing' which allows 
for a lot of interesting tricks.

Regards,
Ryan