CakePHP to save relationship in other model - php

Question

I have these models:
class Prefix extends AppModel {
public $displayField = 'prefix';
public $hasMany = array(
'State' => array(
'className' => 'State',
'foreignKey' => 'prefix_id',
'dependent' => false,
),
);
}
class State extends AppModel {
public $displayField = 'name';
public $belongsTo = array(
'Prefix' => array(
'className' => 'Prefix',
'foreignKey' => 'prefix_id',
),
);
}
Then I have this admin_add method, from the automatic scaffolder:
public function admin_add() {
if ($this->request->is('post')) {
$this->Peefix->create();
if ($this->Prefix->save($this->request->data)) {
$this->redirect(array('action' => 'index'));
} else {
// Error message
}
}
$states = $this->Prefix->State->find('list');
$this->set(compact('states'));
}
I also have the list of them in my form:
<?php echo $this->Form->input('State', array('multiple' => 'checkbox', 'type' => 'select',)); ?>
Now I can set the States for the Prefix. However, when I submit the form, the selection disappears. It is not saved in the database.
What did I do wrong?

Answer 1

You linked the models as if there is only one state per prefix, and many prefixes "assigned" to one state. That means you cannot use 'multiple' => 'checkbox'. So either remove this or change model associations to HABTM.

Answer 2

First, both foreign keys for hasMany and belongsTo must be the same. If in the parent model you provided invoice_circle_id as the key, then the same must be provided in the child model also. Obviously, that field must exist in the child table. See this for more info http://book.cakephp.org/2.0/en/models/associations-linking-models-together.html
Second - you might want to use the saveAll() or saveAssociated() method for linked model data saving. Again - http://book.cakephp.org/2.0/en/models/saving-your-data.html contains all the ifnormation you need.
As for naming the input fields for hasMany, you name them like this:
$this->Form->input('ParentModel.fieldname');
$this->Form->input('ChildModel.0.fieldname');