Return url from paperclip to json

Question

I have a rails app that consists of a CMS system that I use in order to enter sights from a city to my database. I am using paperclip to upload images to amazon s3. All is working fine. Now I want my json files that an ios app will use to include the urls of the images uploaded in s3. I have seen some answers here but I cannot seem to make my code work. What I have is this.. place model ``` attr_accessible :assets_attributes, :asset has_many :assets accepts_nested_attributes_for :assets, :allow_destroy => true def avatar_url assets.map(&:asset_url) end ``` asset model ``` class Asset < ActiveRecord::Base attr_accessible :asset_content_type, :asset_file_name, :asset_file_size, :asset_updated_at, :place_id, :asset belongs_to :place has_attached_file :asset validates_attachment :asset, :presence => true, :content_type => { :content_type => ['image/jpeg', 'image/png'] }, :size => { :in => 0..1.megabytes } def asset_url asset.url(:original) end end ``` view code ``` <%= f.fields_for :asset…

Accepted Answer

In reference to the SO question you linked to (How can I get url for paperclip image in to_json), there are certain elements you'll need in order to get the image to render correctly

The problem you have is Paperclip's `image` method is actually an ActiveRecord object, and therefore you cannot just render it in a JSON request without doing some other stuff

The `_url` Method

The most important part of the process is to define the "_url" method in your `asset` model. This basically calls the `.url` function of Paperclip, allowing JSON to create the desired URL of the image on the fly (The url of the image is not an ActiveRecord object, and can therefore be sent via JSON)

As per the referenced SO question, you should put this action in your model:

```
#app/models/asset.rb
def asset_url
    asset.url(:medium)
end
```

Now when you render the JSON request in your controller, you can use this type of setup:

```
#app/controllers/places_controller.rb
render :json => @places.to_json(:methods => [:asset_url])
```

Because your `asset` model is an associate of `places`, this might not work straight away. However, it's definitely in the right direction, because I can remember doing this exact thing myself

The important thing to note here, is that you're actually passing the naked "URL" of the image through JSON, not the image object itself

Update

Here's an example from our video conference demo app we made:

```
#app/controllers/profiles_controller.rb
def update
   @profile = User.find(current_user.id)
   @profile.profile.update(upload_params)

respond_to do |format|
      format.html { render :nothing => true }
      format.js   { render :partial => 'profiles/update.js' }
      format.json { render :json => @profile.profile.as_json(:only => [:id, :avatar], :methods => [:avatar_url])
      }
    end
end

#app/models/profile.rb
   def avatar_url
       avatar.url(:original)
   end
```

So for you, I'd try this:

```
def index
    @places = Place.all
    render :json => @places.assets.as_json(:only => [:id, :asset], :methods => [:asset_url])
end
```

You could also try something like this:

```
#app/models/profile.rb
def avatar_url
   self.asset.avatar.url(:original)
end
```

Return url from paperclip to json

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