Is it possible to add sub-items to a YML list?

Question

Given the following YML format, is it possible, or advisable to map URLs so that components like nav lists can be both populated and linked?

It can be populated:

products:
  - Wizzy Widgets
  - Doohickeys
  - Thingamabobbers

renders via the following ERB (where the file is /data/product_types.yml):

<% data.product_types.products.each do |product_type|  %>
<li><a href="#"><%= product_type %></a></li>
<% end %>

to output the following markup

<li><a href="#">Wizzy Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Doohickeys</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Thingamabobbers</a></li>

but can it be linked also

products:
  - Wizzy Widgets:
    - url: "/wizzy-widgets"
  - Doohickeys:
    - url: "/doohickeys"
  - Thingamabobbers
    - url: "/thingamabobbers"

through ERB like so:

<% data.product_types.products.each do |product_type, product_url|  %>
<li><a href="<%= product_url %>"><%= product_type %></a></li>
<% end %>

so that it outputs the following markup?

<li><a href="/wizzy-widgets">Wizzy Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="/doohickeys">Doohickeys</a></li>
<li><a href="/thingamabobbers">Thingamabobbers</a></li>

I know this particular example doesn't work. I'm just trying to give an example of what I'm looking to do. Is this a bad practice? If so, how would you approach it?

Answer 1

If you're interested in nesting YML data you can do so like this:

details:
  - name: "Brady Duncan"
    url: "brady-duncan"
    title: "Secretary of Beer Defense"
    bio: "Has a well rounded set of skills (the right brain) who also aggressively networks and enjoys promoting the brand."
    favorite: "Happy Amber"
  - name: "Jeff Hunt"
    url: "jeff-hunt"
    title: "Beer 'Can'nesseur"
    bio: "Has a very deep understanding of the brewing process and the science behind the 'magic'"
    favorite: "Gnarly Brown"
  - name: "Kenny McNutt"
    url: "kenny-mcnutt"
    title: "The 'Beer'ded Baron"
    bio: "The man with the financial plan who also has a refined pallet for identifying flavors in beer."
    - favorite:
      beer: "Psychopathy"
      music: "Bluegrass"
      movies: "Drama"

Answer 2

Try this

require 'yaml'

yml = YAML.load(%{
  products:
    -
      name: Wizzy Widgets
      url: /wizzy-widgets
    -
      name: Doohickeys
      url: /doohickeys
    -
      name: Thingamabobbers
      url: /thingamabobbers
})

yml["products"].each do |product|
  puts %{<li><a href="#{product["url"]}%>">#{product["name"]}</a></li>}
end

Answer 3

use a hash in yml

products:
  Wizzy Widgets:
    /wizzy-widgets
  Doohickeys:
    /doohickeys
  Thingamabobbers:
    /thingamabobbers

erb like your second example

<% data.product_types.products.each do |product_type, product_url|  %>
  <li><a href="<%= product_url %>"><%= product_type %></a></li>
<% end %>