Example model search

job_search.rb

class Job < ActiveRecord::Base
  def self.search(search, page=1, cond, join)
    condition = (cond) ? " AND #{cond}" : ""
    if join
      paginate :per_page => 10, :page => page, :joins => join,
             :order => 'jobs.name', :conditions => "(#{search})#{condition}"
    else
      paginate :per_page => 10, :page => page,
             :order => 'name', :conditions => "(#{search})#{condition}"
    end
  end
end