How does render_to_string work?

class MagazineController < ApplicationController

  layout nil

  def index
  end
  
  def viewer
    @pages = Page.all(:order => 'number')
    @pagedata = render_to_string(:json => @pages)
  end

end

I want to use @pagedata in the viewer view (/app/views/magazine/viewer.html.erb):

<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
  var pageset = <%= @pagedata %>;
</script>

With the @pagedata line commented out in the controller, I can point the browser at localhost/magazine/viewer and see the "viewer" view rendered, although the @pagedata variable obviously hasn't been rendered.

When I uncomment the @pagedata line, pointing the browser at the same address prompts me to download a file that contains the correct JSON.

I don't want to download it. I want it in that variable, written to the page.

What am I doing wrong?

Last edited by wintermute (2010-11-25 12:45:40)