RUBY-111

lib/mongo_bson/types/binary.rb

@@ -34,13 +34,15 @@ module Mongo
 
     # Create a buffer for storing binary data in MongoDB.
     #
-    # @param [Array] initia_data
+    # @param [Array, String] data to story as BSON binary. If a string is given, the value will be
+    #   concerted to an array of bytes using String#unpack("c*").
     # @param [Fixnum] one of four values specifying a BSON binary subtype. Possible values are
     #   SUBTYPE_BYTES, SUBTYPE_UUID, SUBTYPE_MD5, and SUBTYPE_USER_DEFINED.
     #
     # @see http://www.mongodb.org/display/DOCS/BSON#BSON-noteondatabinary BSON binary subtypes.
-    def initialize(initial_data=[], subtype=SUBTYPE_BYTES)
-      super(initial_data)
+    def initialize(data=[], subtype=SUBTYPE_BYTES)
+      data = data.unpack("c*") if data.is_a?(String)
+      super(data)
       @subtype = subtype
     end
 

test/mongo_bson/bson_test.rb

@@ -249,6 +249,17 @@ class BSONTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     assert_equal Binary::SUBTYPE_BYTES, bin2.subtype
   end
 
+  def test_binary_with_string
+    b = Binary.new('somebinarystring')
+    doc = {'bin' => b}
+    bson = Mongo::BSON_CODER.serialize(doc)
+    doc2 = Mongo::BSON_CODER.deserialize(bson)
+    bin2 = doc2['bin']
+    assert_kind_of Binary, bin2
+    assert_equal 'somebinarystring', bin2.to_s
+    assert_equal Binary::SUBTYPE_BYTES, bin2.subtype
+  end
+
   def test_binary_type
     bin = Binary.new([1, 2, 3, 4, 5], Binary::SUBTYPE_USER_DEFINED)