An Extension to ActiveRecord::Relation to add a values method for pulling data outside of ActiveRecord::Models

active_record_raw_values.rb

module ActiveRecord
  module RawValues

    def values(options={})
      relation = self

      select_values = options[:select]
      flat_result = options[:flat]

      relation.select_values = select_values if select_values
      query = relation.build_arel

      if !flat_result
        result = connection.send(:select_all, query)
        result = result.map(&:symbolize_keys!)
      else
        result = connection.send(:select_values, query)
      end

      return result
    end
  end

  class Relation
    include RawValues
  end
end