# The methods added to this helper will be available to all templates in the application.
module ApplicationHelper

  # Accepts a container (hash, array, enumerable, your type) and returns a string of option tags. Given a container 
  # where the elements respond to first and last (such as a two-element array), the "lasts" serve as option values and
  # the "firsts" as option text. Hashes are turned into this form automatically, so the keys become "firsts" and values
  # become lasts. If +selected+ is specified, the matching "last" or element will get the selected option-tag.
  #
  # Examples (call, result):
  #   html_options([["Dollar", "$"], ["Kroner", "DKK"]])
  #     <option value="$">Dollar</option>\n<option value="DKK">Kroner</option>
  #
  #   html_options([ "VISA", "Mastercard" ], "Mastercard")
  #     <option>VISA</option>\n<option selected>Mastercard</option>
  #
  #   html_options({ "Basic" => "$20", "Plus" => "$40" }, "$40")
  #     <option value="$20">Basic</option>\n<option value="$40" selected>Plus</option>
  def html_options(container, selected = nil)
    container = container.to_a if Hash === container
  
    html_options = container.inject([]) do |options, element| 
      if element.respond_to?(:first) && element.respond_to?(:last)
        if element.last != selected
          options << "<option value=\"#{element.last}\">#{element.first}</option>"
        else
          options << "<option value=\"#{element.last}\" selected>#{element.first}</option>"
        end
      else
        options << ((element != selected) ? "<option>#{element}</option>" : "<option selected>#{element}</option>")
      end
    end
    
    html_options.join("\n")
  end

end