a module used on models to allow storage of one hash containing multiple key-value pairs in one column "data", for each data fields passed with has_data_fields (see blood_pressure.rb as an example), it creates getter and setter methods, and delegate those methods to data.m, which will be taken care of by the hashie gem, which is a gem allows you…

normalized_model.rb

  module NormalizedModel

    def self.included(base)
      base.extend ClassMethods
    end

    module ClassMethods
      def has_data_fields(fields)
        include Cloud2Health::NormalizedModel::InstanceMethods
        serialize :data
        before_validation :set_data
        class_attribute :data_fields
        self.data_fields = fields
        fields.each do |m|
          attr_reader m
          delegate m, :to => :data
          define_method("#{m}="){|value| instance_variable_set("@#{m}_setter".to_sym, value) }
        end
      end
    end

    module InstanceMethods
      def set_data
        self.data = Hashie::Mash.new unless data.is_a?(Hashie::Mash)
        self.class.data_fields.each do |field|
          value = instance_variable_get("@#{field}_setter")
          self.data.send("#{field}=", value) if value
        end
      end
    end

  end


ActiveRecord::Base.send(:include, Cloud2Health::NormalizedModel)