Question

I’m using CakePHP 1.3.8, and I’ve installed the CakeDC Search plugin. I have a Tutorial model, which is in a HABTM relationship with a LearningGoal model.

I have a search action & view in the Tutorials controller with which I can successfully search fields in the Tutorial model. I’d also like to filter my tutorial search results using LearningGoal checkboxes on the same form. I’ve tried adding various parameters to Tutorial’s $filterArgs and TutorialsController’s $presetVars. I’ve also tried moving the relevant $filterArgs to the LearningGoal model. I have not yet been able to successfully trigger the entry for learning goals in $filterArgs.

I think I must be missing something obvious. Or maybe the Search plugin doesn’t support what I’m trying to do. Does anyone know how to use this plugin to search on associated models?

Answer 1

So here’s what I’ve figured out. You can combine what’s below with the Search plugin directions to search on related models.

The $filterArgs piece in the Tutorial model must look like this:

var $filterArgs = array(
  array('name' => 'LearningGoal', 'type' => 'subquery', 'method' => 'findByLearningGoals', 'field' => 'Tutorial.id'),
);

Here’s the supporting function in the Tutorial model:

function findByLearningGoals($data = array()) {
  $ids = explode('|', $data['LearningGoal']);
  $ids = join(',', $ids);
  $this->LearningGoalsTutorial->Behaviors->attach('Containable', array('autoFields' => false));
  $this->LearningGoalsTutorial->Behaviors->attach('Search.Searchable');

  $query = $this->LearningGoalsTutorial->getQuery('all',
     array(
       'conditions' => array('LearningGoalsTutorial.learning_goal_id IN (' . $ids . ')'),
       'fields' => array('tutorial_id'),
     )
  );
  return $query;
}

In TutorialsController, $presetVars should look like this:

public $presetVars = array(
  array('field' => 'LearningGoal', 'type' => 'checkbox', 'model' => 'Tutorial'),
);

And in my search action in TutorialsController, I did this:

$this->LearningGoal = $this->Tutorial->LearningGoal;

The Prg component seems to need that.