Question

how do I build a find() query in cakePHP using these conditions:

Find where 
MyModel.x = 1 and MyModel.y = 2 OR 
MyModel.x = 1 and MyModel.y value does not exist (or is equal to empty string)

Can somebody tell me how I can go about building such find query?

Answer 1

I’m gonna give you some pointers, but you need to try to do this as it’s very basic and it’s always good to practice.

A basic find in cake is in the form of

$this->ModelName->find('all');

This in its default form does a SELECT * from model_names (convention is to have singular ModelName for plural table name – model_names)

To add conditions:

$this->ModelName->find('all', array('conditions' => array('ModelName.x' => 1));

To add AND conditions

$this->ModelName->find('all', array('conditions' => array(
   'ModelName.x' => 1, 'ModelName.y' => 2
));

To add OR conditions

$this->ModelName->find('all', array('conditions' => array(
   'OR' => array(
      'ModelName.x' => 1, 'ModelName.y' => 2
    )
));

To combine both

$this->ModelName->find('all', array('conditions' => array(
   'ModelName.y is not' => null,
   'OR' => array(
      'ModelName.x' => 1, 'ModelName.y' => 2
    )
));

// where y is not null and (x = 1 or y = 2) 

http://book.cakephp.org/1.3/view/1030/Complex-Find-Conditions

(btw I’m sure there will be users giving you the exact answers, so just take my answer for your reference 🙂 )