active_record_ext.rb

# lib/active_record_ext.rb

module ActiveRecordExtensions
  def self.included(base)
    base.extend(ClassMethods)
  end
  
  # attempts to create an 'html-friendly' id
  def to_html_param(include_class_name = true)
    if include_class_name
      "#{self.class.name.parameterize.underscore}_#{self.to_s.parameterize.underscore}"
    else
      self.to_s.parameterize.underscore
    end
  end

  module ClassMethods
    # nothing, at the moment
  end
end
 
ActiveRecord::Base.send(:include, ActiveRecordExtensions)

application.rb

# config/application.rb

# Make sure this is uncommented:
config.autoload_paths += %W(#{config.root}/lib)

# and add this below
require 'active_record_ext'