cakephp Virtual Field in SQL query - php

Question

I am trying to work with cakephp virtualFields in cakephp 1.3. My sql query is as follows but I need day_index (my virtual fields) to be 'DAYOFWEEK(start_date)'.
I need to rewrite a query
$data = $this->Calendar->query("SELECT *, DAYOFWEEK(start_date) as day_index, TIME(start_time) as time
FROM calendars WHERE calendar_category_id =$cal ORDER BY day_index, time");
into this format:
$sqlConditions = array("Calendar.calendar_category_id"=>$cal);
$sqlOrderBy = array("Calendar.day_index", "Calendar.time asc");
$sqlParams = array('conditions'=>$sqlConditions,'order'=>$sqlOrderBy);
$data = $this->Calendar->find('all',$sqlParams);
$this->set('data',$data);
So I'm not sure how to/where to put or declare the virtual field.
$fields = $this->Calendar->virtualFields['day_index'].'AS 'DAYOFWEEK(start_date)';

Answer 1

Found 2 ways to do this, not sure if one is better than the other.
controller edit only method
$sqlFields = array("DAYOFWEEK(Calendar.start_date) as day_index",
"TIME(Calendar.start_time) as time",
"Calendar.start_date",
"Calendar.calendar_category_id",
"Calendar.start_time");
$sqlConditions = array("Calendar.calendar_category_id"=>$cal);
$sqlOrderBy = array("Calendar.day_index, Calendar.time asc");
$sqlParams = array('fields'=>$sqlFields,'conditions'=>$sqlConditions,'order'=>$sqlOrderBy);
$data = $this->Calendar->find('all',$sqlParams);
return $data;
exit();
model method with edits to controller based on this method
Model >
var $virtualFields = array(
'day_index' => "DAYOFWEEK(Calendar.start_date)",
'time' => "TIME(Calendar.start_time)"
);
var $displayIndex = 'day_index';
var $displayTime = 'time';
Controller >
$sqlConditions = array("Calendar.calendar_category_id"=>$cal);
$sqlOrderBy = array("Calendar.day_index, Calendar.time asc");
$sqlParams = array('conditions'=>$sqlConditions,'order'=>$sqlOrderBy);
$data = $this->Calendar->find('all',$sqlParams);
return $data;
exit();