Question

I have a Strain model that has a belongsTo relationship with a Sample model, i. e. a strain belongs to a sample.

I am configuring a hidden field in the StrainForm configure() method this way:

$defaultId = (int)$this->getObject()->getSample()->getTable()->getDefaultSampleId();
$this->setWidget('sample_id', new sfWidgetFormInputHidden(array('default' => $defaultId)));

Whenever I create a new Strain, the $form->save() fails. The debug toolbar revealed that it tries to save a Sample object first and I do not know why.

However, if I retrieve the default sample ID using the table it works like a charm:

$defaultId = (int)Doctrine_Core::getTable('Sample')->getDefaultSampleId();
$this->setWidget('sample_id', new sfWidgetFormInputHidden(array('default' => $defaultId)));

My question here is what can be happening with the getObject()->getSample()... sequence of methods that causes the StrainForm to think it has to save a Sample object instead of Strain.

I tried to debug with xdebug but I cannot came up with a clear conclusion.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

When you call getSample its creating a Sample instance. This is automatically attached to the Strain object, thus when you save you also save the Sample.

An altenrative to calling getSample would be to chain through Strain object to the Sample table since i assume youre only doing this so your not hardcodeing the Sample’s name in related form:

// note Sample is the alias not necessarily the Model name
$defaultId = Doctrine_Core::getTable($this->getObject()->getTable()->getRelation('Sample')->getModel())->getDefaultId();