How do I move my ruby iteration into my controller / model in Rails3

Question

I've created a basic username / password generator which creates X random usernames and passwords. I used this post as the basis. It works ok in the console but I do not understand how to get it to work properly in my RoR3.1 application.

I need to create a simple form which I can input the following variables:

1. Number of iterations (X) required
2. Length of username (Y)
3. Length of password (Z)

Then, when I click save, I need the application to create X usernames and password and save to the db.

I have managed to get it working by calling the action upon page load, but I do not know how to create a form which will pass over the variables.

I've created this in my user model:

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  private

  def self.generate_batch
    10.times do
     username = ""
     password =""
     5.times { username << (i = Kernel.rand(62); i += ((i < 10) ? 48 : ((i < 36) ? 55 : 61 ))).chr }
     5.times { password << (i = Kernel.rand(62); i += ((i < 10) ? 48 : ((i < 36) ? 55 : 61 ))).chr }
     User.create!(:username => username, :check_attributes => [ {:attribute_name => "User-Password", :value => password, :op => ":="}])
    end
  end      
end

In my users controller, I created a new action:

def new_batch
  @user = User.new
  respond_to do |format|
    if @user.save      
      @user = User.generate_batch
    else
      format.html { render action: "new_batch" }
      format.json { render json: @user.errors, status: :unprocessable_entity }
    end
  end
end

And in my routes:

get "/batch" => "users#new_batch"

I started with a blank form to see if I could at least get it going with the variables hardcoded:

= simple_form_for @user do |f|
  = f.submit

When I hit submit, it looks like it tries to use my create action, instead of generating the batch...

What do I need to do to:

1. Get the form to submit properly
2. Enter the variables as above

Thanks in advance

-- UPDATE --

Following the advice below, I've created two controllers:

routes.rb now has this:

  get "/batch" => 'users#new_batch'
  put "/batch" => 'users#new_batch_create'

And the controller like this:

  def new_batch
  end

  def new_batch_create
     @user = User.generate_batch 
  end

Now, when I hit submit, it processes through loop :)

Still don't quite understand how to pass the variables over from the form...

Answer 1

You should create 2 controllers. One to call to get the form and one to post/get your action. This is the same as with your regular controllers, New/Edit and Create/Update.

If you have a object in your views used to create the fields, use the below form

= form_for(@user, :method => :put, :url => url_for({:controller => :users, :action => :new_batch)) do |f|
  = f.submit 'Submit', {:class => 'btn'}

otherwise just create your own form with _tag helpers

= form_tag("/batch"", :method => :get) do |f|
  = submit_tag 'Submit', {:class => 'btn'}