cakephp - one find() query to rule them all - php

Question

I have the following model relationships defined:
class Publication extends AppModel {
var $name = 'Publication';
var $hasAndBelongsToMany = array(
'Author'=>array(
'className'=>'Author'
)
);
}
class Author extends AppModel {
var $name = 'Author';
var $hasAndBelongsToMany = array(
'Publication'=>array(
'className'=>'Publication'
)
);
var $belongsTo = array(
'College' => array (
'className' => 'College'
)
);
}
class College extends AppModel {
var $name = 'College';
var $hasMany = array(
'Department'=>array(
'className'=>'Department'
)
);
}
class Department extends AppModel {
var $name = 'Department';
var $belongsTo = array(
'College'=>array(
'className'=>'College'
)
);
}
The database tables are set up correctly (join tables for the HABTM, etc.). I am trying to find the one DB query to rule them all. I want to create a query that will find all of the publications with the associated authors, colleges, departments, etc. After getting data from a form, I have tried to run queries like this:
$conditions = array(
"Author.id" => $this->data['authors'],
"Publication.year" => $this->data['year']
);
$publications = $this->Publication->find('all', array('conditions' => $conditions));
This throws SQL errors saying that Author.id is not a valid field. Now, this is because a join with the 'authors' db table has not been completed by the time Author.id is being searched for. BUT, if I do this:
$pubs = $this->Publication->find('all', array('conditions' => $conditions));
then I get an array that has all of the Publications with all of the associated Authors (though, not the associated Colleges for some reason).
My question is this: what do I need to do to make the tables join before Author.id is searched for? I've attempted to use bindModel, containable, subqueries, but cannot get those to work for some reason (probably a ID10T error).
Thanks for any advice!
Edit:
The result of the following call:
$this->Publication->recursive = 2;
$pubs = $this->Publication->find('all');
are as follows:
Array (
[0] => Array (
[Publication] => Array ( [id] => 1 [title] => TestArticle [year] => 2011 [type_id] => 3 )
[Type] => Array ( [id] => 3 [type_name] => Journal Articles )
[Author] => Array (
[0] => Array ( [id] => 2 [firstname] => Jeremy [lastname] => Gustine [middle] => A [faculty] => 0 [college_id] => 4 [AuthorsPublication] => Array ( [id] => 3 [author_id] => 2 [publication_id] => 1 )
[College] => Array ( [id] => 4 [college_name] => Letters, Arts, and Sciences ) )
[1] => Array ( [id] => 3 [firstname] => George [lastname] => Obama [middle] => A [faculty] => 0 [college_id] => 6 [AuthorsPublication] => Array ( [id] => 2 [author_id] => 3 [publication_id] => 1 )
[College] => Array ( [id] => 6 [college_name] => School of Public Affairs ) )
[2] => Array ( [id] => 2 [firstname] => Jeremy [lastname] => Gustine [middle] => A [faculty] => 0 [college_id] => 4 [AuthorsPublication] => Array ( [id] => 1 [author_id] => 2 [publication_id] => 1 )
[College] => Array ( [id] => 4 [college_name] => Letters, Arts, and Sciences ) ) ) )
[1] => Array (
[Publication] => Array ( [id] => 2 [title] => TestBook [year] => 2010 [type_id] => 1 )
[Type] => Array ( [id] => 1 [type_name] => Books )
[Author] => Array (
[0] => Array ( [id] => 7 [firstname] => Sony [lastname] => Stuff [middle] => L [faculty] => 0 [college_id] => 5 [AuthorsPublication] => Array ( [id] => 4 [author_id] => 7 [publication_id] => 2 )
[College] => Array ( [id] => 5 [college_name] => Nursing and Health Science ) ) ) ) )
Hopefully that is somewhat readable...

Answer 1

Your second find is correct
i.e. $pubs = $this->Publication->find('all', array('conditions' => $conditions));
just above that try using recursive 2 (below code) to get related College too.
$this->Publication->recursive = 2;