Check if model column exists before saving in database

Question

I want to insert a column into my db table, but only if it does not exist, yet. So I thought I'd check if the model with the specified email exists, and if not I perform save() method.

Here is what I do:

$customerModel = Mage::getModel('custom/customerobject');
$loadedModel = $customerModel->load($RequestParams['email'],'email'); 
$customerIsUnique = empty($loadedModel->getData('email'));

if($customerIsUnique)
{
    // Do stuff
 }

Is this the common way how it's done in magento or is there a better way, like $customerModel->saveOnlyIfItDoesNotExistOrAnyOtherAwesomeMethod() ?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

you check it like that..

$customerModel=Mage::getModel("custom/customerobject")->getCollection()
                          ->addFieldToFilter('email', array('eq' => $RequestParams['email']));
if(count($customerModel)==1)
    {  
        Mage::getSingleton('core/session')->addError('Email Already Registered');

          $this->_redirect('*/*/');
                    return;
    }else { // do your code here }