gistfile1.rb

class RawDataController < ApplicationController
  helper_method :sort_column, :sort_direction

  def index
  end

  protected

  def sort_column
    logger.debug @sort_model.inspect
    @sort_model.column_names.include?(params[:sort]) ? params[:sort] : @sort_default_col
  end
  def sort_direction
    %w[asc desc].include?(params[:direction]) ? params[:direction] : "asc"
  end
end

class DevicesController < RawDataController
  @sort_model = Device
  @sort_default_col = 'blah'

  def index
    logger.debug @sort_model.inspect
    @devices = Device.search(params[:search]).order(sort_column + " " + sort_direction).paginate(:per_page => 40, :page => params[:page])
  end
end