Laravel 4 eloquent create doesn't work and fill does - php

Question

I want to create an instance of model called Property using method create with Input::all() as parameter. Input contains only fillable fields. When using create method laravel raise this exception:
alpha.ERROR: exception 'Illuminate\Database\QueryException' with message 'SQLSTATE[23000]: Integrity constraint violation: 1452 Cannot add or update a child row: a foreign key constraint fails (`propathai`.`properties`, CONSTRAINT `properties_user_id_foreign` FOREIGN KEY (`user_id`) REFERENCES `users` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE) (SQL: insert into `properties` (`slug`, `updated_at`, `created_at`) values (, 2014-07-30 10:21:42, 2014-07-30 10:21:42))' in /home/ricardo/CHH/propathai/vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Database/Connection.php:555
This exception is happening because insert query is not populated with all input params.
{"bedrooms":"4","title":"ricardo","room_type":"apartment","type":"rent","furnished":"fully_furnished","aging":"new","user_id":"3"}
I tried creating new Property object and using fill() method and it does work.
Code not working
public function store()
{
$input = Input::all();
$input['user_id'] = Auth::user()->id;
$property = Property::create($input);
return Response::json(array('success' => true, 'redirect' => '/dashboard/properties/'.$property->id.'/edit-details'));
}
Code working
public function store()
{
$input = Input::all();
$input['user_id'] = Auth::user()->id;
$property = new Property;
$property->fill($input);
$property->save();
return Response::json(array('success' => true, 'redirect' => '/dashboard/properties/'.$property->id.'/edit-details'));
}
Model
protected $guarded = array('id','services');
protected $fillable = array('user_id','bedrooms','title','room_type','type','furnished','aging');
If anyone knows why it's happening let me know please.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Your slug is not being filled.
SQL: insert into `properties`
(`slug`, `updated_at`, `created_at`) values (, 2014-07-30 10:21:42, 2014-07-30 10:21:42)
It may be one of those:
1- Your slug has a different name attribute on your input form.
2- It's not on your fillable array.
3- It's either empty, null or being filtered.
ex: to filter empty inputs I do:
$input = array_filter(Input::all(),'strlen');
By the way, the way you are doing this is not the nicest of ways. Check this out:
http://laravel.com/docs/eloquent
Click on "one to many"
What it would look like on your app?
Your model User
public function properties(){
return $this->hasMany('Property');
}
Your model Property
public function user(){
return $this->belongsTo('User');
}
On your controller:
$user = Auth::user();
$input = Input::all();
$input['user_id'] = $user->id;
$user->properties()->create($input);
That would be a more 'Laravel' way to approach it.
Also, if you really wanna go PRO watch Laracasts by Jeffrey Way.
It's the best online resource for Laravel4 I've seen online.