Mongoose saving array of array instead of a single array

Question

I´m trying to save an array on MongoDB using mongoose. Here is my model:

let itemFields = { "name": { "type": "String", "required": true, "unique": true } };

let modelFields = {
    "name": { "type": "String", "required": true, "unique": true },
    "description": { "type": "String" },
    "options": { "type": "Array", "ref": "SelectOptionItem" },
    "company_id": { "type": "ObjectId", "ref": "Company", "required": true },
    "deleted": { "type": "Boolean", "required": true },
    "createdAt": { "type": "Number" },
    "updatedAt": { "type": "Number" }
};

const SelectOptionItem = new mongoose.Schema(itemFields);
const schema = new mongoose.Schema(modelFields);

Later I have the following code to save data:

schema.statics.create = async function(context, data) {
    console.log("Saved data:");
    console.log(data);
    let so = new this(data);
    so.save();
}

Where I get the following log:

 Saved data:
 { name: 'aa',
   description: 'aa',
   options: [ { name: '1' }, { name: '2' } ],
   company_id: '59b2cd9a072e4f28b839aaa0',
   deleted: false,
   createdAt: 1511569192524 }

Finally, this is what I´m getting in the mongo console:

> db.selectoptions.find({});
{ "_id" : ObjectId("5a18b7288c688033a4adcb0c"), "name" : "aa", "description" : "aa", "company_id" : ObjectId("59b2cd9a072e4f28b839aaa0"), "deleted" : false, "createdAt" : 1511569192524, "options" : [ [ { "name" : "1" } ], [ { "name" : "2" } ] ], "__v" : 0 }

Repair that options is being an array of array ([[]]). Later when retrieving that data I´m having problems as I´m expecting a single array.

I need to undestand why mongoose is saving an array of array at options field and how to solve that.

which version of mongoose you are using ?

Bmaed Riasbet
– Bmaed Riasbet

2017-11-25 01:17:27 +00:00
Commented Nov 25, 2017 at 1:17 — Bmaed Riasbet
– Bmaed Riasbet, Commented Nov 25, 2017 at 1:17
Mongoose Version 4.11.1.

Mendes
– Mendes

2017-11-25 09:35:46 +00:00
Commented Nov 25, 2017 at 9:35 — Mendes
– Mendes, Commented Nov 25, 2017 at 9:35

Bmaed Riasbet · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-25 02:18:16Z

2

Change this line:

"options": { "type": "Array", "ref": "SelectOptionItem" },

By this:

"options": { "type": "Mixed", "ref": "SelectOptionItem" },

Or by this:

"options": [SelectOptionItemSchema],

The second one generate an _id for item

edited Nov 25, 2017 at 2:18

answered Nov 25, 2017 at 1:31

Bmaed Riasbet

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3 Comments

Nandu Kalidindi Over a year ago

For some reason options is set to an empty array with this approach in 4.13.1

Bmaed Riasbet Over a year ago

Thanks Nandu, I have edited my answer, please let me know what you think about it.

Nandu Kalidindi Over a year ago

Yeah that looks about right but from a schema standpoint, you usually would not put a ref on Mixed type. Please review my answer as well.

Nandu Kalidindi · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-25 10:13:10Z

There are two ways to achieve this.

First, by not creating a separate collection for SelectOptionItem
Second, by creating a new SelectOptionItem collection and using ref

Using mongoose 4.13.1. You can try this to insert objects into your array without creating a new collection for SelectOptionItem. You can always disable _id property for documents in options if you don't require it.

var mongoose = require('mongoose');
mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost/test');
var db = mongoose.connection;

var SelectOptionItemSchema= mongoose.Schema({ "name": { "type": "String", "required": true, "unique": true } })

let modelFields = {
    "name": { "type": "String", "required": true, "unique": true },
    "description": { "type": "String" },
    "options": [SelectOptionItemSchema],
    "company_id": { "type": "ObjectId", "ref": "Company", "required": true },
    "deleted": { "type": "Boolean", "required": true },
    "createdAt": { "type": "Number" },
    "updatedAt": { "type": "Number" }
};

var SelectOptionSchema = mongoose.Schema(modelFields)

var SelectOption = mongoose.model('SelectOption', SelectOptionSchema);

var data = { name: 'aa', description: 'aa', options: [ { name: '1' }, { name: '2' } ], company_id: '59b2cd9a072e4f28b839aaa0', deleted: false, createdAt: 1511569192524 }


var newSelectOption = new SelectOption(data)

If you want to create a collection for SelectOptionItem at any cost then while creating the document you need to send the SelectOptionItem Ids in the array for options. Because ref is similar to a foreign key.

You can use .populate to get the full blown object while querying. Refer to http://mongoosejs.com/docs/populate.html for more querying techniques.

NOTE: I am not sure how accurate this is but you most probably would want to send ObjectId to the ref column.

Note: ObjectId, Number, String, and Buffer are valid for use as refs. However, you should use ObjectId unless you are an advanced user and have a good reason for doing so.

var SelectOptionItemSchema = mongoose.Schema({ "name": { "type": "String", "required": true, "unique": true } })

var SelectOptionItem = mongoose.model('SelectOptionItem', SelectOptionItemSchema);

var firstOptionItem = new SelectOptionItem({name: "1"}); //5a18cfe79a61fd183530d467
var secondOptionItem = new SelectOptionItem({name: "2"}); //5a18d0089a61fd183530d469

let modelFields = {
    "name": { "type": "String", "required": true, "unique": true },
    "description": { "type": "String" },
    "options": [{type: "ObjectId", ref: "SelectOptionItem"}],
    "company_id": { "type": "ObjectId", "ref": "Company", "required": true },
    "deleted": { "type": "Boolean", "required": true },
    "createdAt": { "type": "Number" },
    "updatedAt": { "type": "Number" }
};

var SelectOptionSchema = mongoose.Schema(modelFields)

var SelectOption = mongoose.model('SelectOption', SelectOptionSchema);

var data = { name: 'aa', description: 'aa', options: [ "5a18cfe79a61fd183530d467", "5a18d0089a61fd183530d469" ], company_id: '59b2cd9a072e4f28b839aaa0', deleted: false, createdAt: 1511569192524 }


var newSelectOption = new SelectOption(data)

SelectOption.find({}, function(err, response) { 
    console.log(response)
}).populate('options')

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