gistfile1.rb

# controller action

def result_list
  type = (params[:newsletter_id].to_i.zero? ? 'PdfList' : 'Newsletter').constantize
  result_list = type.find(params[:result_list_id])    
  unless result_list.in_progress?
    call_rake :result_list, :function => params[:submit_button],
                            :result_list_id => result_list.id,
                            :search => (params[:search].blank? ? nil : params[:search].strip), 
                            :search_scope => params[:search_scope], 
                            :type => type.to_s.downcase,
                            :item_ids => (params[:item_ids].join(",") if params[:item_ids])
  
  end
      

  respond_to do |format|
    format.html { redirect_to contacts_path(params) }
    format.js { render :nothing => true }
  end
end

gistfile2.rb

require 'spec_helper'

describe ContactsController do
  before do
    @params = { "item_ids"=>["1", "2", "3"], 
                "action"=>"result_list", 
                "_method"=>"put", 
                "authenticity_token"=>"SH8gm6L3C5V0mnfMsXSSQYZexMBPJ2G9hrbIBF7F718=", 
                "order"=>"contacts.first_name", 
                "submit_button"=>"check all", 
                "page"=>"1", 
                "display"=>"", 
                "result_list_id"=>"1", 
                "controller"=>"contacts", 
                "per_page"=>"5", 
                "direction"=>"0", 
                "search_scope"=>"", 
                "search"=>""
    }
  end
  
  def do_put
    put :result_list, :params => @params
  end
  
  describe "calling result_list action for rake task" do
    it "should be a mailing list when there is a newsletter_id param" do
      
    end
    
    it "should be a pdf list when there is no newsletter_id param"
    
    it "should not call rake if the result list is in process" do
      pdf_list = mock_model(PdfList, :save => true, :id => "1", :rake_finish => Time.now)
      newsletter = mock_model(Newsletter, :save => true, :id => "1", :rake_finish => Time.now)
      # and here I should be doing something like: 
      #   pdf_list.in_progress?.should be_false
      #   newsletter.in_progress?.should be_false
      
    end
    
    it "should redirect to the contacts path when called via http"
    
    it "should render nothing when called via ajax"
  end
end