Seeding images in Rails

seeds.rb

# encoding: utf-8

environment_seed_file = File.join(Rails.root, 'db', 'seeds', "#{Rails.env}.rb")

def seed_image(file_name)
  File.open(File.join(Rails.root, "/app/assets/images/seed/#{file_name}.jpg"))
end

products = [
  {:name => 'foo', :description => 'lorem ipsum',   :product_type => ProductType.find_by_name('Sandwiches')},
  {:name => 'bar', :description => 'dolerem ipsum', :product_type => ProductType.find_by_name('Soups')}
]

products.each do |attributes|
  attributes[:image] = seed_image('product_family_or_system')
  Product.find_or_create_by_name(attributes[:name], attributes)
end

Also worth noting that if you want to add a WHOLE bunch of properties to everything you seed, with a few overrides, you can merge from some default attributes:

products.each do |overrides|
  attributes = {
    :family => Family.find_by_name('Roast Beef),
    :product_type => ProductType.find_by_name('Sandwiches'),
    :description => 'Delicious.',
    :main_image => seed_image('product'),
    :list_image => seed_image('product_list')
  }
  attributes.merge!(overrides)
  Product.find_or_create_by_name(attributes[:name], attributes)
end