Creating REST API with CakePHP - php

Question

I have to create a REST API for mobile backend using CakePHP. After following the instructions here I have been able to setup the requirements for creating a REST API. The problem is that I am getting a null in my output when I use the _serialize variable. Here is my code:
class InvitationController extends AppController {
public $components = array('RequestHandler');
public function index() {
}
public function add() {
if ($this->request->is('post')) {
$this->loadModel('Organizer');
$numPeople = $this->request->data['numpeople'];
$share = $this->request->data['myshare'];
$organizer = $this->request->data['organizer'];
$organizerMobile = $this->request->data['organizermobile'];
$this->set('organizerMobile', $organizerMobile);
$deadline = $this->request->data['deadline'];
$links = array();
date_default_timezone_set("Asia/Calcutta");
$now = date('Y-m-d');
$lastOrganizer = $this->Organizer->find('first', array(
'order' => array('Organizer.id' => 'desc')
));
$checkOrganizer = $this->getOrganizerDetails($lastOrganizer);
$pass = //something;
// save data in organizers table
$this->organizer->create();
$this->organizer->save(
array(
'name' => $organizer,
'mobile' => $organizerMobile,
'p_id' => 1,
'share' => $share,
'deadline' => $deadline,
'password' => $pass,
'group_cardinality' => $numPeople,
'created_on' => $now,
)
);
$message = 1;
$this->set(array(
'message' => $message,
'_serialize' => array($message)
));
}
}
}
When I make a request to POST /invitation.json I get null in the ouput with status 200. On the other hand if I simply do echo json_encode($message) in the Controller or in the View I get the correct output. I think I am doing something wrong. Please help!

Answer 1

That's wrong:
'_serialize' => array($message)
Pay attention to the manual, it shows it correctly in the provided examples.
'_serialize' => array('message')