Overrides some basic methods for the current model so that calling destroy sets a ‘deleted_at’ field to the current timestamp. This assumes the table has a deleted_at date/time field. Most normal model operations will work, but there will be some oddities.

  class Widget < ActiveRecord::Base
    acts_as_paranoid
  end

  Widget.find(:all)
  # SELECT * FROM widgets WHERE widgets.deleted_at IS NULL

  Widget.find(:first, :conditions => ['title = ?', 'test'], :order => 'title')
  # SELECT * FROM widgets WHERE widgets.deleted_at IS NULL AND title = 'test' ORDER BY title LIMIT 1

  Widget.find_with_deleted(:all)
  # SELECT * FROM widgets

  Widget.find(:all, :with_deleted => true)
  # SELECT * FROM widgets

  Widget.count
  # SELECT COUNT(*) FROM widgets WHERE widgets.deleted_at IS NULL

  Widget.count ['title = ?', 'test']
  # SELECT COUNT(*) FROM widgets WHERE widgets.deleted_at IS NULL AND title = 'test'

  Widget.count_with_deleted
  # SELECT COUNT(*) FROM widgets

  @widget.destroy
  # UPDATE widgets SET deleted_at = '2005-09-17 17:46:36' WHERE id = 1

  @widget.destroy!
  # DELETE FROM widgets WHERE id = 1