Question

I have a Django app that uses MySQL as a backend. I’m having difficulties where the raw MySQL records show one value, but Django presents something else in the web app.

For example, I have a table for client data. One of the fields in each record is called snailMailInvoice and is a Y/N choice — default is Y (varchar type).

+-------------------+--------------+------+-----+---------+----------------+
| Field             | Type         | Null | Key | Default | Extra          |
+-------------------+--------------+------+-----+---------+----------------+
| snailMailInvoice  | varchar(3)   | NO   |     | Y       |                |

The raw MySQL:

select * from systems_system_contact where lastName="SomeClient";
...a bunch of other fields... | snailMailInvoice |
...a bunch of other fields... | N

Then, in the Django App, the form displays Y (the other choice). It is like the Django App can’t see the MySQL value, so it defaults to Y. If, through the Django App, I select N and save the form, THEN the value sticks to N in Django.

Why would this be happening?

EDIT – to add some code

Forms.py:

class System_Contact_Form(ModelForm):
    class Meta:
        model = System_Contact
        exclude = ('isMainContact', 'systemOwner', 'companyName', 'isRessyContact')

Views.py:

def contact_details(request, scID):
    redirect_to = request.REQUEST.get('next', '/systems/contacts/')
    if request.method == 'POST':
        syscontEdit = System_Contact.objects.get(pk=scID)
        form = System_Contact_Form(request.POST, instance=syscontEdit)

        if form.is_valid():
            form.save()
            return HttpResponseRedirect(redirect_to)
    else:
        syscontView = System_Contact.objects.get(pk=scID)
        form = System_Contact_Form(instance=syscontView)

    c = {
        'form':form,
        'cancel':redirect_to
        }

    return render_to_response('pages/systems/contact_details.html', c, context_instance=RequestContext(request))

Models.py:

class System_Contact(models.Model):
IS_MAIN_CONTACT_CHOICES = (
    ('Y', 'Yes'),
    ('N', 'No'),
)

IS_SYSTEM_OWNER_CHOICES = (
    ('Y', 'Yes'),
    ('N', 'No'),
)

IS_RESSY_CONTACT_CHOICES = (
    ('Y', 'Yes'),
    ('N', 'No, this is a commercial contact'),
)

TRADE_CHOICES = (
    ('EL', 'Electrician'),
    ('LA', 'Landscaper'),
    ('PL', 'Plumber'),
    ('TR', 'Trencher'),
)

SNAIL_MAIL_CHOICES = (
    ('Y', 'Yes'),
    ('N', 'No'),
)

SNAIL_MAIL_INVOICE_CHOICES = (
    ('Y', 'Yes'),
    ('N', 'No'),
)


firstInitial = models.CharField(max_length = 10, verbose_name = 'First Initial', blank = True, null = True)
firstName = models.CharField(max_length = 60, verbose_name = 'First Name', blank = True, null = True)
lastName = models.CharField(max_length = 160, verbose_name = 'Last Name', blank = True, null = True)
phonetically = models.CharField(max_length = 100, verbose_name = 'Phonetically', blank = True, null = True)
companyName = models.CharField (max_length = 160, verbose_name = 'Company Name', blank = True, null = True) #Only used for Commercial Owners, no other field needed
homePhone = models.CharField(max_length = 60, verbose_name = 'Home Phone Number', blank = True, null = True)
officePhone = models.CharField(max_length = 60, verbose_name = 'Office Phone Number', blank = True, null = True)
cellPhone = models.CharField(max_length = 60, verbose_name = 'Cell Phone Number', blank = True, null = True)
faxNumber = models.CharField (max_length= 60, blank=True, null=True, verbose_name = 'Fax Number')
isMainContact = models.CharField (max_length = 3, verbose_name = 'Is the Main Contact?', choices = IS_MAIN_CONTACT_CHOICES, default='N')
isRessyContact = models.CharField (max_length = 3, verbose_name = 'Is this a Ressy Contact?', choices = IS_RESSY_CONTACT_CHOICES, default='Y')
isArchived = models.BooleanField(verbose_name = 'Archived?', default = False)
systemOwner = models.CharField (max_length = 3, verbose_name = 'Is a System Owner?', choices = IS_SYSTEM_OWNER_CHOICES, default='N')  #this is just a flag to say they own a system
worksFor = models.CharField (max_length = 70, verbose_name = 'Works For', blank = True, null = True)
tradeType = models.ForeignKey(Contact_Trade, blank=True, null=True, verbose_name='Trade')
emailAddress = models.EmailField(verbose_name = 'Email Address', blank = True, null = True)

billingAddress = models.CharField(max_length = 150, verbose_name = 'Billing Address', blank=True, null=True )
billingCity = models.CharField(max_length = 90, verbose_name = 'Billing City', blank=True, null=True)
billingProvince = models.CharField(max_length = 30, verbose_name = 'Billing Province', blank=True, null=True)
billingPostalCode = models.CharField(max_length = 10, verbose_name = 'Billing Postal Code', blank=True, null=True)
snailMailOnly = models.CharField(max_length = 3, verbose_name = 'Snail Mail Only?', choices = SNAIL_MAIL_CHOICES, default='Y')
snailMailInvoice = models.CharField(max_length = 3, verbose_name = 'Snail Mail Invoice?', choices = SNAIL_MAIL_INVOICE_CHOICES, default='Y')

Answer 1

OK — I figured it out.

I realised there was something connected with the fact that in my CSV file, the snailMailInvoice field is the LAST field on each line. Thus, at the end of the line there is a carriage return. I assumed that this was a \n — thus in my MySQL command to import the CSV, I state terminated by '\n'.

However, the MySQL picked up a ‘\r’ on EVERY line and was adding it to the snailMailInvoice field. Thus, every record has either a Y or a N with a \r attached.

I amended my MySQL import statement to have: lines terminated with '\r\n' Now everything is working as expected.

Lesson learned.

Thanks for the help.