From: Dave Thomas <Dave@...>
Date: 2002-07-13T04:14:56+09:00
Subject: Re: Dynamic Methods

"John" <nojgoalbyspam@hotmail.com> writes:

> I wonder if anyone has any suggestions on how to create a method that
> matches its name based on a regular expression.  For instance:

How about something like this:

     class Dave

       # This part implements the 'alias_regexp' thingie

       @@_method_matches = {}

       def self.alias_regexp(regexp, name)
         @@_method_matches[regexp] = name
       end

       def method_missing(name, *args)
         name = name.to_s
         @@_method_matches.each do |regexp, target|
           if regexp =~ name.to_s
             return send(target, *args)
           end
         end
         super
       end


       # and this demonstrates it in action

       def do_it
         puts "do it"
       end

       def dont
         puts "dont"
       end

       alias_regexp /no.*/, :dont
       alias_regexp /nyet.*/, :dont
       alias_regexp /yes.*/, :do_it
     end

     d = Dave.new
     d.no_way
     d.nyet_way
     d.yes_please


Cheers


Dave