gistfile1.txt

  # report.rb
  # Aliased below.  This will check for existing ReportDetail with matching attributes (all of them)
  # And if it exists, set the ID, otherwise, set the report_period_detail object using the original method
  # Not sure if there is some Railsy way of doing this...

  def report_detail_with_find(attrs)
    report_detail = ReportDetail.find_or_create_by_duration_and_display_duration_and_starting_month_and_period_offset(attrs[:duration],attrs[:display_duration],attrs[:starting_month],attrs[:period_offset])
    report_detail_without_find(report_detail)
  end

  # Can't use alias_method_chain as we're overwriting a setter, the = sign messes up naming conventions
  # Here we're overwriting the default report_period_detail= method to first check if an exis
  alias_method :report_detail_without_find, :report_detail=
  alias_method :report_detail=, :report_detail_with_find

  # Ensure that if our report_detail has changed, we don't update the original as others might reference this
  # So instead, search for existing report_period_detail or create new
  def before_update
    if report_detail.changed?
      # attributes method returns keys as strings, we want symbols
      attrs = report_detail.attributes.symbolize_keys # convert strings to symbols
      [:id, :created_at, :updated_at].each{ |attr| attrs.delete(attr) }    # don't assign old, unecessary attrs to new object
      report_detail_with_find(attrs)
    end
  end