Question

I have a model with several embedded models. I need to query for a record to see if it exists. the issue is that I will have to include reference to multiple embedded documents my query would have to include the following params:

{
 "first_name"=>"Steve",
 "last_name"=>"Grove",
 "email_addresses"=>[
     {"type"=>"other", "value"=>"[e-mail]", "primary"=>"true"}
 ],
 "phone_numbers"=>[
     {"type"=>"work_fax", "value"=>"[phone]"},
     {"type"=>"home", "value"=>"[phone]"}
 ],
 "addresses"=>[
     {"type"=>"work", "street_address"=>"6390 N Main Street", "city"=>"Elbert", "state"=>"CO"}
 ],
}

How can I query for all the embedded docs even though some fields are missing such as _id and associations?

Answer 1

A few things to think about.

1. Are you sure the query HAS to contain all these parameters? Is there not a subset of this information that uniquely identifies the record? Say (first_name, last_name, and an email_addresses.value). It would be silly to query all the conditions if you could accomplish the same thing in less work.

2. In Mongoid the where criteria allows you to use straight javascript, so if you know how to write the javascript criteria you could just pass a string of javascript to where.

3. Else you’re left writing a really awkward where criteria statement, thankfully you can use the dot notation.

Something like:

UserProfile.where(first_name: "Steve", 
                   last_name: "Grove", 
                   :email_addresses.matches => {type: "other", 
                                                value: "[e-mail]", 
                                                primary: "true"}, 
                    ..., ...)