gistfile1.rb

# generates a div that will load itself with content from an ajax request.
# the request is un-altered so, if you don't want it wrapped in the
# header/footer you may need to pass in 'partial=true' with the query string
#
# eg: ajax_content_for :url => '/content/some-path'
#
# eg: ajax_content_for '/content/some-path'
#
  def ajax_content_for *args 
    options = args.options
    options.to_options!

    url =
      if options[:url]
        options[:url].to_s
      else
        args.join
      end

    slug = url.slug
    id = "content-for-#{ slug }"
    selector = "##{ id }"
 
    <<-html
      <div id=#{ id.inspect }>&nbsp;</div>
      <script type="text/javascript">
        (function(){
          jq.ajax({
            'url' : #{ url.to_json },
            'async' : false,
            'success' : function(data, status){ jq(#{ selector.to_json }).html(data) },
            'error' :  function(data, status){ jq(#{ selector.to_json }).html('Sorry, ' + #{ url.to_json } + ' not found') },
          });
        })();
      </script>
    html
  end