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beforeFind(mixed $queryData)

Called before any find-related operation. The $queryData passed to this callback contains information about the current query: conditions, fields, etc.

If you do not wish the find operation to begin (possibly based on a decision relating to the $queryData options), return false. Otherwise, return the possibly modified $queryData, or anything you want to get passed to find and its counterparts.

You might use this callback to restrict find operations based on a user’s role, or make caching decisions based on the current load.

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afterFind(array $results, bool $primary)

Use this callback to modify results that have been returned from a find operation, or to perform any other post-find logic. The $results parameter passed to this callback contains the returned results from the model's find operation, i.e. something like:

$results = array(
  0 => array(
    'ModelName' => array(
      'field1' => 'value1',
      'field2' => 'value2',
    ),
  ),
);

1. $results = array(
2. 0 => array(
3. 'ModelName' => array(
4. 'field1' => 'value1',
5. 'field2' => 'value2',
6. ),
7. ),
8. );

The return value for this callback should be the (possibly modified) results for the find operation that triggered this callback.

The $primary parameter indicates whether or not the current model was the model that the query originated on or whether or not this model was queried as an association. If a model is queried as an assocation the format of $results can differ; instead of the result you would normally get from a find operation, you may get this:

$results = array(
  'field_1' => 'value1',
  'field_2' => 'value2'
);

1. $results = array(
2. 'field_1' => 'value1',
3. 'field_2' => 'value2'
4. );

Code expecting $primary to be true will probably get a "Cannot use string offset as an array" fatal error from PHP if a recursive find is used.

Below is an example of how afterfind can be used for date formating.

function afterFind($results) {
	foreach ($results as $key => $val) {
		if (isset($val['Event']['begindate'])) {
			$results[$key]['Event']['begindate'] = $this->dateFormatAfterFind($val['Event']['begindate']);
		}
	}
	return $results;
}

function dateFormatAfterFind($dateString) {
	return date('d-m-Y', strtotime($dateString));
}

1. function afterFind($results) {
2. foreach ($results as $key => $val) {
3. if (isset($val['Event']['begindate'])) {
4. $results[$key]['Event']['begindate'] = $this->dateFormatAfterFind($val['Event']['begindate']);
5. }
6. }
7. return $results;
8. }
9. function dateFormatAfterFind($dateString) {
10. return date('d-m-Y', strtotime($dateString));
11. }

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beforeValidate()

Use this callback to modify model data before it is validated, or to modify validation rules if required. This function must also return true, otherwise the current save() execution will abort.

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beforeSave()

Place any pre-save logic in this function. This function executes immediately after model data has been successfully validated, but just before the data is saved. This function should also return true if you want the save operation to continue.

This callback is especially handy for any data-massaging logic that needs to happen before your data is stored. If your storage engine needs dates in a specific format, access it at $this->data and modify it.

Below is an example of how beforeSave can be used for date conversion. The code in the example is used for an application with a begindate formatted like YYYY-MM-DD in the database and is displayed like DD-MM-YYYY in the application. Of course this can be changed very easily. Use the code below in the appropriate model.

function beforeSave() {
	if (!empty($this->data['Event']['begindate']) && !empty($this->data['Event']['enddate'])) {
    		$this->data['Event']['begindate'] = $this->dateFormatBeforeSave($this->data['Event']['begindate']);
    		$this->data['Event']['enddate'] = $this->dateFormatBeforeSave($this->data['Event']['enddate']);
	}
	return true;
}

function dateFormatBeforeSave($dateString) {
	return date('Y-m-d', strtotime($dateString)); // Direction is from 
}

1. function beforeSave() {
2. if (!empty($this->data['Event']['begindate']) && !empty($this->data['Event']['enddate'])) {
3. $this->data['Event']['begindate'] = $this->dateFormatBeforeSave($this->data['Event']['begindate']);
4. $this->data['Event']['enddate'] = $this->dateFormatBeforeSave($this->data['Event']['enddate']);
5. }
6. return true;
7. }
8. function dateFormatBeforeSave($dateString) {
9. return date('Y-m-d', strtotime($dateString)); // Direction is from
10. }

Be sure that beforeSave() returns true, or your save is going to fail.

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afterSave(boolean $created)

If you have logic you need to be executed just after every save operation, place it in this callback method.

The value of $created will be true if a new record was created (rather than an update).

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beforeDelete(boolean $cascade)

Place any pre-deletion logic in this function. This function should return true if you want the deletion to continue, and false if you want to abort.

The value of $cascade will be true if records that depend on this record will also be deleted.

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afterDelete()

Place any logic that you want to be executed after every deletion in this callback method.

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onError()

Called if any problems occur.