transform() must be an instance of App\DigitalCase - php

Question

public function index(Request $request) {
if ($request->has('show_type') && $request->show_type == 'deleted') {
$digital_cases = DigitalCase::onlyTrashed()->get();
} else {
$digital_cases = DB::table('digital_cases');
if ($request->has('caseName')) {
$digital_cases = $digital_cases->where('name', 'LIKE', $request->caseName . '%');
if ($request->has('addedBy')) {
$addedBy = $request->addedBy;
$digital_cases = $digital_cases->whereIn('added_by', function ($query) use ($addedBy) {
$query->select('id')->from('assistants')->where('firstname', 'LIKE', $addedBy . '%');
});
}
} else if ($request->has('addedBy')) {
$addedBy = $request->addedBy;
$digital_cases = $digital_cases->whereIn('added_by', function ($query) use ($addedBy) {
$query->select('id')->from('assistants')->where('firstname', 'LIKE', $addedBy . '%');
});
}
$digital_cases = $digital_cases->get();
}
$transformation = fractal()->transformWith(new DigitalCaseTransformer())->collection($digital_cases)->toArray();
return response()->json($transformation, 200);
}
I really tired of asking questions. But i have last problem is; i couldnt convert digital_cases to DigitalCase Model instance.
I got an error :
Type error: Argument 1 passed to App\Transformers\DigitalCaseTransformer::transform() must be an instance of App\DigitalCase, instance of stdClass given, called in
If it work in IF condition everything is ok. But when it work in ELSE condition it returns an error. How can i convert digital_cases variable to instance of DigitalCase ?
Laravel 5.6

Answer 1

Using $digital_cases = DB::table('digital_cases'); will not give you an instance (or Collection of) the DigitalCase Model. You need to use DigitalCase. To start a query that you can append conditional clauses to, begin with
$digital_cases = DigitalCase::query();
Then, continue appending clauses in the same way. When you pass a closure (->get(), etc), you'll end up with a Collection of DigitalCase Models (or a single DigitalCase if using ->first()).

Answer 2

You can really simplify and clean up the conditional queries using when:
DigitalCase::when($request->has('caseName'), function ($q) {
return $q->where('name', 'LIKE', request()->caseName . '%');
})->when($request->has('addedBy'), function ($q) {
return $q->whereIn('added_by', function ($query) {
$query->select('id')->from('assistants')->where('firstname', 'LIKE', request()->addedBy . '%');
});
}})->get();
That will yield the same result as all the if () { .. } else if () { .. }