Embedded and no-embedded document in the same time - mongodb

Question

I need to have a model which will behave like a embedded and not-embedded.
For example if I want to store this model as embedded:
class MenuPosition
include Mongoid::Document
field :name, type: String
field :category, type: String
I need to add
embedded_in :menu
to it.
On the other side, if I add this line in the model I cannot store this model as not-embedded:
position = {
"name" => "pork",
"category" => "meal",
"portion" => 100
}
MenuPosition.create(position)
error message:
NoMethodError:
undefined method `new?' for nil:NilClass
Can I use one model for embedded and not-embedded documents?

Answer 1

In our project we had a similar thing. What we did is define the fields as a module. A bit like this:
module SpecialFields
extend ActiveSupport::Concern
included do
field :my_field, type: String
field :my_other_field, type: String
end
end
Then in your class where you want to embed, just do:
include SpecialFields
In your class that you'd like to store separately as a non-embedded document, do this:
class NotEmbeddedDoc
include Mongoid::Document
include SpecialFields
end
This worked pretty well in our project for a few things. However, it might not be appropriate in your case since you want to embed many. This only really works for embeds one cases I think. I have posted it here in case it helps people.