Define a hierarchy of model classes in CakePHP

Question

By default CakePHP has a AppModel class and every model of an application inherits from it. A common design pattern to share logic between models is to create a behavior and configure a model to $actAs that behavior.

But what if I wanted to introduce a hierarchy of model classes like this?:

AppModel
  |__ Vehicle
        |__ Car
        |__ Bike
        |__ Helicopter

I have tried to create a Vehicle class that inherits from AppModel, and then every children class inherits from Vehicle. But CakePHP tells me it cannot find the class Vehicle.

How could I make this and where in the CakePHP directory tree should I create Vehicle?

Thanks!

Answer 1

it should not be a problem to do so you only need to make sure you app::import() the "parent model" before you declare it. or what did you do that the model cannot be found?

If I do sth like that I use a lib to be my "vehicle" it does not have to be a model in the model directory

e.g. App::import('Lib', 'Vehicle');

Vehicle extends AppModel

Car extends Vehicle