CakePHP hasAndBelogsToMany using save() vs. saveAll()
-
02-07-2019 - |
Question
I am using a very intrinsic database with a CakePHP application and so far my multi-models views and controllers are working fine. I have a singular table (Entity
) that have it's id
on several other tables as the Foreign Key entity_id
Some tables are one to one relations (Like a Company
is one Entity
) and some are one to many (Entity
can have several Addresses
) and so on.
I won't/can't change the database model, so this is the structure.
I have been using saveAll()
to save data on those tables with input names like:
Entity.type='x' (hidden inside the view)
Company.name
Address.0.street
Address.0.city
Address.1.street
Address.1.city
... and so on ...
and my save all is doing all the hard job, BEGIN TRANSACTION
, all INSERT
s and a final COMMIT
...
But now I've created a EntityCategory
that is a n to n relation and created the full HABTM
relation inside the model.
It works when I save()
it but just the HABTM
relation, and it saves everthing when I use saveAll()
(just as before) except for the HABTM
relation.
Am I missing something ? How I make this work correctly ? I am using the following code today:
if (!empty($this->data)) {
$this->Entity->saveAll($this->data);
$this->Entity->save($this->data);
}
The saveAll()
saves all data in several tables, saves the id in Entity->id
and the save()
saves the HABTM
relations, but I am not sure if it is correct or if it can bring me problems if I change some structure/model.
Is this the best way to use it? Is there a correct way to save that relations inside CakePHP ? What your experience/knowledge can tell me ?
Solution
This is fixed if you download the nightly.
Be careful though, something else might break.
OTHER TIPS
The problem with saveAll() and HABTM associations is a known CakePHP issue, and has not been resolved as of 1.2 RC2.
As fas as best pratices for saving related model data goes, according to the CakePHP cookbook:
"When working with associated models, it is important to realize that saving model data should always be done by the corresponding CakePHP model. If you are saving a new Post and its associated Comments, then you would use both Post and Comment models during the save operation."
However, using saveAll() and save() should work, and IMHO is a more flexible/generic solution.