How to save this data in cakePHP? - php

Question

I have a User Model and a Boarder Model, Not every User is a Boarder but Every Boarder is a User.
User model
class User extends AppModel
{
public $primaryKey = "user_id";
public $hasMany = 'Boarder';
}
Boarder model
class Boarder extends AppModel
{
public $belongsTo = 'User';
}
add.ctp of my Boarders View
<?php
echo $this->Form->create('Boarder', array('role' => 'form', 'novalidate' => true));
echo $this->Form->input('user_name');
echo $this->Form->input('bdr_home_address');
echo $this->Form->end();
?>
So during submit, add function in controller will now receive an array something like this
Array
(
[Boarder] => Array
(
[user_name] => 'John',
[bdr_home_address] => 'Some Street, Some City'
)
)
[user_name] will be saved in Users Model while [bdr_home_address] will be saved in Boarders model. as indicated in my $this->Form->create the request will be directed to BoardersController, action add. So how will I be able to save this?
BoardersController
class BoardersController extends AppController
{
public function add()
{
}
}

Answer 1

If every Boarder is a User, the Boarder table should include a user_id field.
The add.ctp form can look like
<?php
echo $this->Form->create('Boarder', array('role' => 'form', 'novalidate' => true));
echo $this->Form->input('User.username');
echo $this->Form->input('Boarder.home_address');
echo $this->Form->submit();
echo $this->Form->end();
?>
The add function from the controller is:
public function add()
{
if ($this->request->is('post')) {
debug($this->request->data);
if ($this->Boarder->saveAssociated($this->request->data)) {
// saved
} else {
// not saved
}
}
}