first commit

app/controllers/theses_controller.rb

@@ -55,9 +55,14 @@ def create
     @thesis.student = @student
     @thesis.audit_comment = 'Starting a new thesis. Status: OPEN.'
 
-    @thesis.audit_comment = 'Starting a new thesis. Status: OPEN.'
-
     @thesis.status = Thesis::OPEN
+
+    if Thesis.exists?(title: @thesis.title, student: @student, degree_name: @thesis.degree_name, degree_level: @thesis.degree_level)
+      flash[:alert] = 'You cannot save the same thesis.'
+      render action: 'new'
+      return
+    end
+
     if @thesis.save
       if params[:committee_member_ids].present?
         params[:committee_member_ids].each do |committee_member_id|

app/models/thesis.rb

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class Thesis < ApplicationRecord
 
   validates :published_date, timeliness: { allow_blank: true }
   validates :exam_date, timeliness: { type: :date }
+  validates :title, uniqueness: { scope: [:student_id, :degree_name, :degree_level]}
 
   ##### RELATIONS ######
 

test/system/students_test.rb

@@ -86,6 +86,40 @@ class StudentsTest < ApplicationSystemTestCase
     assert_selector "p", text: "#{@thesis.student.email}", visible: :all
   end
 
+
+  test 'Creating a thesis, pressing back and attempting to save again' do
+    visit root_url
+    click_link('Gem Records')
+    click_link(@gem_record.studentname)
+    click_link('Create ETD Student Record')
+    page.accept_alert
+    click_link('Start this thesis')
+    select "EMBA", from: "thesis_degree_name"
+    select "Master's", from: "thesis_degree_level"
+    click_button('Create Thesis')
+    page.go_back
+    click_button('Create Thesis')
+    visit root_url
+
+    thesis_elements = all('a')
+
+    thesis_titles = thesis_elements.map(&:text)
+
+    # Use a set to track seen titles and duplicates
+    seen_titles = Set.new
+    duplicates = []
+
+    thesis_titles.each do |title|
+      if seen_titles.include?(title)
+        duplicates << title
+      else
+        seen_titles.add(title)
+      end
+    end
+
+    assert_empty duplicates, "Duplicate thesis titles found: #{duplicates.join(', ')}"
+  end
+
   should "display full name instead of first, middle and last name" do
     @thesis = FactoryGirl.create(:thesis)
     login_as(@thesis.student)