PostgreSQL check whether timestamp field is empty

Question

I followed these instructions to check whether a user has been soft-deleted or not when logging in. In the example below I can check for a boolean value:

Class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  def self.find_for_authentication(conditions)
    super(conditions.merge(:deleted_flag => false))
  end

I would prefer a timestamp (created_at) field. How can I check whether such a field is empty? The database throws errors for the following checks:

super(conditions.merge(:deleted_at => false)) # also tried nil, "NULL" and "IS NULL"

Thanks, didn't work, it says `undefined local variable` or `undefined constant` — migu, Oct 17 '12 at 14:59

score 11 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:23

You can't using this solution, without modifying devise of course. Devise will send your conditions directly to the database, so no way of calling a method or using a library like squeel (that will allow something like where{created_at == nil}.

You could use the solution provided in How to "soft delete" user with Devise, but the error message will be: "You have to confirm your account before continuing."

Add this to your resource model:

  def inactive_message
    !!deleted_at ? :deleted : super
  end

And add a message to your locales:

en:
  devise:
    failure:
      deleted: "Your account was deleted."

I hope it helps!

PostgreSQL check whether timestamp field is empty

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