Rails zip2tax example

zip2tax_rails.rb

# Rails zip2tax example
# Tested in Rails 3.0.0
# Because of the use of a MySQL stored procedure the CLIENT_MULTI_RESULTS flag
#   needs to be set.
# Rails 3 sets that flag and this code works in Rails 3
# Rails <2.3.4 does not and this will not work - see https://gist.github.com/729555
# Rails >= 2.3.4 does -- the code below was only tested with rails 3 

# in config/database.yml
zip2tax:
  adapter: mysql
  host: db.Zip2Tax.com
  database: zip2tax
  username: z2t_link
  password: H^2p6~r

# in the model, app/models/zip2tax.rb
class Zip2tax < ActiveRecord::Base
  establish_connection :zip2tax
  
  def self.result_hash(zip_code,username="sample",password="password")
    connection.execute("CALL zip2tax.z2t_lookup('#{zip_code}','#{username}','#{password}')").fetch_hash
  end  
end

# in the controller
  @sales_tax_rate = Zip2tax.result_hash('90210','sample','password')["Sales_Tax_Rate"]

# in the view
  <%= @sales_tax_rate %>