Add new items to dropdown list

#CONTROLLER
 
def save_item
     @item = Item.find_by_name(params[:name])
     if params[:name].nil? or params[:name].strip == ""
        render :text => "Sorry, you must provide an item name", :status => 444
     else if !@item.nil?
       render :text => "Sorry, this item already exists.", :status => 444
     else
       @category = Category.find_by_id(params[:category_id].to_i)
       if @category
         begin
           @item = Item.new()
           @item.name = params[:name]
           @item.category_id = @category.id
           @item.save!
           render :partial=> 'item', :locals=> {:item=>@item, :category => @category}
         rescue Exception => e
           render :text => e.message, :status => 444
         end
       end
     end
  end
end
 
#_item.rhtml
 
  <div id="newitemfor<%=category.id.to_s%>" class="item">
    <%= text_field_tag "category"+category.id.to_s ,nil %>
 
    <%= link_to_function "cancel", "$(this).up('.item').remove();Element.show('add"+category.id.to_s+"')"%>
 
    <%= link_to_remote "save", 
    {
      :update => {:success =>"extra_item_"+category.id.to_s},
      :position => "bottom",
      :url=>{:action=> :save_item, :category_id=>category.id},
      :with=>"'item=' + $F('category"+category.id.to_s+"')",
      :success => "Element.remove('newitemfor"+category.id.to_s+"');Element.show('add"+category.id.to_s+"')",
      :failure =>"alert(request.responseText);"
    } %>
  </div>
  
  
#list.rhtml
 
<div id="extra_item_<%=category.id%>" class="addextra">
                 <% category.items.each_with_index do |item,x|%>
                  <%if item.category_id == category.id%>
                    <%= render :partial=> 'item', :locals=> {:item=>item, :category => category} %>
                  <%end%>
                <%end%>
            </div>
            <% divid = "extra_member_id_"+category.id.to_s%>
            <%= link_to_function "add member id", :id=>'add'+category.id.to_s do |page|
                page.element.hide('add'+category.id.to_s)
                page.insert_html :bottom, divid, :partial =>'item', :locals=> {:category => category}
            end %>

                                              

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