What is the proper way to have a form in a partial view reference an empty model in order to handle validation properly as defined on the model. Should I instantiate a new, empty model in the partial view and pass it through to the form? Here is what I'm working with...
MODEL
class NewsletterSignup < ActiveRecord::Base
def self.columns()
@columns ||= [];
end
def self.column(name, sql_type = nil, default = nil, null = false)
columns << ActiveRecord::ConnectionAdapters::Column.new(name, default, sql_type, null)
end
def persisted?
false
end
column :first_name, :string
column :last_name, :string
column :email, :string
column :zip, :string
validates :first_name, :last_name, :email, :zip, :presence => true
validates :email, :format => /^[-a-z0-9_+\.]+\@([-a-z0-9]+\.)+[a-z0-9]{2,4}$/i
validates :zip, :format => /^\d{5}$/
end
Partial View
<%
signup = newsletter_signup.new
%>
<%= simple_form_for(signup, ...) do |f| %>
<%= f.input :first_name, :label => "First Name:" %>
<%= f.input :last_name, :label => "Last Name:" %>
<%= f.input :email, :label => "Email:" %>
<%= f.input :zip, :label => "Zip:" %>
...
<% end %>
But I can't seem to instantiate a new model like this. I assume I have to reference it in the view. (Note, I'm new to rails but have a decade+ of professional software development experience, so I apologize if some of rails constructs seem foreign to me and I may just be overlooking something simple!)