Add new items via JQuery TokenInput / Ruby on Rails

gistfile1.rb

  #model (idea 100% stolen from ryanb)
  def author_tokens=(ids)
    ids.gsub!(/CREATE_(.+?)_END/) do
      Author.create!(:name => $1).id
    end
    self.author_ids = ids.split(",")
  end  

  # jquery.tokeninput.js

  # remove .toLowerCase() (twice), otherwise you won't be able to add new items with capitals...
  # also change this line:
  # var this_token = $("<li><p>"+ value +"</p> </li>")
  # to this:
  # var this_token = $("<li><p>"+ value.replace('Add: ', '') +"</p> </li>")

  # controller
  def index
    @authors = Author.where("name like ?", "%#{params[:q]}%")
    results = @authors.map(&:attributes)
    
    results << {:name => "Add: #{params[:q]}", :id => "CREATE_#{params[:q]}_END"}

    respond_to do |format|
      format.html
      format.json { render :json => results }
    end
  end