Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Ruby Build a Todo List Application with Rails 4 Build a Todo List Application with Rails 4 Generate a Scaffold

Posted by Stephen Fricke
Stephen Fricke
3,249 Points

Rake aborted. Migrate aborted. Standard Error. Undefined Method. So what exactly causes this?

So I was trying to migrate my code with bin/rake db:migrate and instead I wound up with something like this. 

~/workspace/projects/odot (master) $ bin/rake db:migrate --trace
Running via Spring preloader in process 1736
[DEPRECATION] `last_comment` is deprecated.  Please use `last_description` instead.
[DEPRECATION] `last_comment` is deprecated.  Please use `last_description` instead.
[DEPRECATION] `last_comment` is deprecated.  Please use `last_description` instead.
[DEPRECATION] `last_comment` is deprecated.  Please use `last_description` instead.
[DEPRECATION] `last_comment` is deprecated.  Please use `last_description` instead.
[DEPRECATION] `last_comment` is deprecated.  Please use `last_description` instead.
[DEPRECATION] `last_comment` is deprecated.  Please use `last_description` instead.
** Invoke db:migrate (first_time)
** Invoke environment (first_time)
** Execute environment
** Invoke db:load_config (first_time)
** Execute db:load_config
** Execute db:migrate
== 20160629023110 CreateTodoLists: migrating ==================================
-- create_table(:todo_lists)
rake aborted!
StandardError: An error has occurred, this and all later migrations canceled:

undefined method `To' for #<ActiveRecord::ConnectionAdapters::TableDefinition:0x00000004e63fa8>
/home/ubuntu/workspace/projects/odot/db/migrate/20160629023110_create_todo_lists.rb:4:in `block in change'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/schema_statements.rb:216:in `create_table'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:665:in `block in method_missing'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:634:in `block in say_with_time'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:634:in `say_with_time'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:654:in `method_missing'
/home/ubuntu/workspace/projects/odot/db/migrate/20160629023110_create_todo_lists.rb:3:in `change'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:608:in `exec_migration'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:592:in `block (2 levels) in migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:591:in `block in migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:292:in `with_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:590:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:768:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:998:in `block in execute_migration_in_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:1044:in `block in ddl_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:213:in `block in transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/transaction.rb:184:in `within_new_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:213:in `transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/transactions.rb:220:in `transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:1044:in `ddl_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:997:in `execute_migration_in_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:959:in `block in migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:955:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:955:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:823:in `up'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:801:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:137:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/railties/databases.rake:44:in `block (2 levels) in <top (required)>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:248:in `block in execute'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:243:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:243:in `execute'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:187:in `block in invoke_with_call_chain'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/monitor.rb:214:in `mon_synchronize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:180:in `invoke_with_call_chain'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:173:in `invoke'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:152:in `invoke_task'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:108:in `block (2 levels) in top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:108:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:108:in `block in top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:117:in `run_with_threads'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:102:in `top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:80:in `block in run'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:178:in `standard_exception_handling'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:77:in `run'
/home/ubuntu/workspace/projects/odot/bin/rake:9:in `<top (required)>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activesupport-4.2.6/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:268:in `load'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activesupport-4.2.6/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:268:in `block in load'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activesupport-4.2.6/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:240:in `load_dependency'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activesupport-4.2.6/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:268:in `load'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/rubygems/core_ext/kernel_require.rb:55:in `require'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/rubygems/core_ext/kernel_require.rb:55:in `require'
-e:1:in `<main>'
NoMethodError: undefined method `To' for #<ActiveRecord::ConnectionAdapters::TableDefinition:0x00000004e63fa8>
/home/ubuntu/workspace/projects/odot/db/migrate/20160629023110_create_todo_lists.rb:4:in `block in change'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/schema_statements.rb:216:in `create_table'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:665:in `block in method_missing'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:634:in `block in say_with_time'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:634:in `say_with_time'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:654:in `method_missing'
/home/ubuntu/workspace/projects/odot/db/migrate/20160629023110_create_todo_lists.rb:3:in `change'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:608:in `exec_migration'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:592:in `block (2 levels) in migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/benchmark.rb:293:in `measure'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:591:in `block in migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:292:in `with_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:590:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:768:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:998:in `block in execute_migration_in_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:1044:in `block in ddl_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:213:in `block in transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/transaction.rb:184:in `within_new_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:213:in `transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/transactions.rb:220:in `transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:1044:in `ddl_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:997:in `execute_migration_in_transaction'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:959:in `block in migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:955:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:955:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:823:in `up'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/migration.rb:801:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:137:in `migrate'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activerecord-4.2.6/lib/active_record/railties/databases.rake:44:in `block (2 levels) in <top (required)>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:248:in `block in execute'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:243:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:243:in `execute'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:187:in `block in invoke_with_call_chain'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/monitor.rb:214:in `mon_synchronize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:180:in `invoke_with_call_chain'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb:173:in `invoke'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:152:in `invoke_task'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:108:in `block (2 levels) in top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:108:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:108:in `block in top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:117:in `run_with_threads'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:102:in `top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:80:in `block in run'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:178:in `standard_exception_handling'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/rake-11.2.2/lib/rake/application.rb:77:in `run'
/home/ubuntu/workspace/projects/odot/bin/rake:9:in `<top (required)>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activesupport-4.2.6/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:268:in `load'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activesupport-4.2.6/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:268:in `block in load'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activesupport-4.2.6/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:240:in `load_dependency'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.3.0/gems/activesupport-4.2.6/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:268:in `load'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/rubygems/core_ext/kernel_require.rb:55:in `require'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.3.0/lib/ruby/2.3.0/rubygems/core_ext/kernel_require.rb:55:in `require'
-e:1:in `<main>'
Tasks: TOP => db:migrate

So I was curious as to what exactly was the cause of this? From what I've seen online, I either have a software issue with one of the gems like rake or spring. Or there's an issue with the string for my scaffold. I'm unsure exactly what it is at this moment. Any ideas?

Abhishek Sisodia
Abhishek Sisodia
16,203 Points
Abhishek Sisodia
Abhishek Sisodia
16,203 Points 
NoMethodError: undefined method `To'

error seems to be originating from here. can you share your migration file db/migrate/20160629023110_create_todo_lists.rb ?

3 Answers

Stephen Fricke
Stephen Fricke
3,249 Points
Stephen Fricke
Stephen Fricke
3,249 Points

Yeah. Here it is. 

class CreateTodoLists < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def change
    create_table :todo_lists do |t|
      t.To :title
      t.string :Do
      t.text :List

      t.timestamps null: false
    end
  end
end
Abhishek Sisodia
Abhishek Sisodia
16,203 Points
Abhishek Sisodia
Abhishek Sisodia
16,203 Points

Problem here is in line 4 & 5. they should read

t.string :title

here t refers to the todo_lists table generated by create_table method, :title refers to the name of column, and string refers to the datatype of the column.

If this migration file was auto generated by your scaffold command, then closely compare what you wrote with

bin/rails generate scaffold todo_list title:string description:text
Stephen Fricke
Stephen Fricke
3,249 Points
Stephen Fricke
Stephen Fricke
3,249 Points

Yeah, I see what I did wrong now. I had case of confusion with :string description: when generating the scaffold. It works now.

(Syntax, Syntax....SYNTAX).

Thanks for the help.