HasMagicColumns
===============

Allows the addition of "magic" columns and attributes on a per model basis.

Installation
============

You need to create table definitions for MagicColumns.

Generate the migration using the included task:

  rake has_magic_columns:db:create
  
Run the standard migrate task to update your schema:

  rake db:migrate
  
You're ready to start using HasMagicColumns!

Example
=======
class Person < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_magic_columns
end

# Create a Person
@bob = Person.create(:email => "bob@example.com")

# Add some MagicColumns
@bob.magic_columns << MagicColumn.create(:name => "first_name")
@bob.magic_columns << MagicColumn.create(:name => "last_name")
@bob.magic_columns << MagicColumn.create(:name => "birthday", :datatype => "date")

# Give @bob some magic...
@bob.first_name = "Bob"
@bob.last_name = "Magic!"
@bob.birthday = Date.today

# Save @bob like normal
@bob.save

# Find @bob and inspect him
@bob = Person.find(@bob.id)
@bob.first_name	#=> "Bob"
@bob.last_name	#=> "Magic!"
@bob.birthday	#=> #<Date: 4908497/2,0,2299161>

Inherit Template Columns
========================
A child can "inherit" magic columns from its parent.  You can use container models to provide a 
column template for contained objects.  For example, an Account has_magic_columns and 
has_many :people.  A Person inherits magic columns from its account:

class Person < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :account
  has_magic_columns :inherit => :account
end

Children people now all share the columns of their parent account.  You don't need to use these
magic columns on the Account of course.  It's just a convenient and logical way to provide column 
templating.

This is really nice in multi-user, multi-account environments where Accounts can "customize" 
model attributes.


Copyright (c) 2007 Brandon Keene <bkeene AT gmail DOT com>

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