Update fields from an array with CakePHP

Question

I have an array that is sent to my controller, such as this:

$array = array(
        [0]=>array(
             [id]=>5,
             [position]=>6 
        ),
       [1]=>array(
             [id]=>8,
             [position]=>2 
        )
);

And I need to save the position of each item using its id. What is the best way to do this in cakePHP? I can only imagine looping an update function or pulling the entire database, changing the correct values, then saving the database. Both ideas seem very bodged.

OpenSorceress · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-09 17:40:18Z

4

Ha, Cake magic to the rescue again. You don't have to tell Cake to save it by id. There's a big long amazing way Cake does this, but the short and skinny is -

if your array contains an 'id' key, Cake presumes it is the table primary key and generates an UPDATE statement instead of an INSERT. Looks like this:

UPDATE table as Table SET Table.position = $position WHERE Table.id = $id;

And, Cake knows to iterate for you if you use saveAll() instead of save():

$this->Model->saveAll($array);

If you have any save callbacks in your model, such as beforeSave(), you have to call them manually before calling saveAll() - they only autofire on save(), not saveAll() or updateAll().

You'll want to top your array with the name of your model ($array['Model'][0], $array['Model'][1], etc). If you need to magically saveAll() with multiple models, you top your array with indexed keys, then model names - like $array[0]['Model1'], $array[0]['Model2']) and Cake knows to save / update the associated data for all the models in each index batch.

Cake does ALL the legwork for you:

http://book.cakephp.org/view/1031/Saving-Your-Data - especially the saveAll() entry.

Edit - and topping your array with your model name? Cake makes that ridiculously easy, too. Check out Cake's built-in Set library for all your array / object manipulation needs.

http://book.cakephp.org/view/1487/Set

answered Jun 9, 2011 at 17:40

OpenSorceress

2,00416 silver badges21 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

dogmatic69 Over a year ago

actually, save all takes int indexed array, not with the model name eg: $this->Article->saveAll($data['Article']); not $this->Article->saveAll($data); where the array is $data['Article'][n]['field]. The array OP pasted in the question is the correct format for saveAll, its documented in the link you pasted but you still got it wrong

OpenSorceress Over a year ago

@dogmatic69-- actually, I got both exactly right. :) The API is totally clear -> api.cakephp.org/class/model#method-ModelsaveAll - "Record data to save. This can be either a numerically-indexed array (for saving multiple records of the same type), or an array indexed by association name." API entries + redacted code examples pasted from my live app for illustration -> saveAll() 1 record + multiple models works exactly as the API says it does :) Didn't bother pasting an example of saveAll() -> multiple records, 1 model because -> no need, OP's code shows that. :)

OpenSorceress Over a year ago

@dogmatic69-- It bears mentioning, I answered another closely-related question from the OP shortly before the OP asked this question; the first question included more context and background, and OP's code showed arrays structured a bit differently, etc. I included the extra information about cake's save / saveAll, model callbacks, etc. and examples because the additional background indicated the OP would find heavy-duty Model methods useful / relevant. stackoverflow.com/questions/6285006/…

Alex Over a year ago

thanks for your answer, the extra detail was appreciated. I was unsure who to award the correct answer to, since you both linked to the saveAll function which ultimately gave me the solution I was looking for. I gave Dave the correct answer as I though he answered first, but clearly you have the more detailed and useful response.

Dave · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-09 17:26:08Z

2

Have you tried CakePHP's saveAll() ? Details here.

answered Jun 9, 2011 at 17:26

Dave

29.2k26 gold badges117 silver badges184 bronze badges

1 Comment

Alex Over a year ago

I continually underestimate what cake can do. Of course if the data is in the correct format, cake will process it as normal... Seems so simple now!

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Update fields from an array with CakePHP

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related