Ransack search on data stored in array (operator does not exist: integer[] = integer)

Question

I have a Rails model call InfoData and it has an attribute called error_codes. The codes are stored in an array like so [9,7,10,21] (integer[]) .

To recap

InfoData.first.error_codes 
=> [9,7,5]

I try to use ransack on it in order to search if a specific code is present(via a select option). For error_codes_in (_in ransack predicate) I receive the following error

operator does not exist: integer[] = integer
LINE 1: ...ranch_id" WHERE "info_data"."error_codes" IN (9) A...
                                                         ^
HINT:  No operator matches the given name and argument type(s). You might need to add explicit type casts.

How should it be fixed?

Answer 1

I think the easiest way would be to add a scope to your model and tell Ransack that it can use that scope. Something like this in your model:

class InfoData < ApplicationRecord
  def self.error_codes_has(code)
    # Or use `scope` to define this class method if you prefer
    # doing it that way.
    where(':code = any(info_datas.error_codes)', code: code)
  end

  def self.ransackable_scopes(auth = nil)
    %i[error_codes_has]
  end
end

And then use that scope in your search form:

<%= search_form_for @q do |f| %>
  ...
  <%= f.label :error_codes_has %>
  <%= f.search_field :error_codes_has %>
  ...
<% end %>

Alternatively, you could write your own ransacker that understands PostgreSQL arrays. That's probably more work and complexity than you need unless you're doing a lot of this.