CakePHP: Trouble writing form contents to database - database

Question

I get the contents of my form to write to the database. My code is as follows:
View (index.ctp):
<div class="modal fade" id="test_modal">
<div class="modal-header">
<a class="close" data-dismiss="modal">×</a>
<h1>Create Customer</h1>
</div>
<div class="modal-body">
<?php
echo $this->Form->create('Contact');
echo $this->Form->input('type');
echo $this->Form->input('name');
echo $this->Form->input('company');
echo $this->Form->input('phone');
echo $this->Form->input('mobile');
echo $this->Form->input('email');
echo $this->Form->input('vatNumber');
echo $this->Form->input('mainAddressLine1');
echo $this->Form->input('mainAddressLine2');
echo $this->Form->input('mainAddressTown');
echo $this->Form->input('mainAddressCounty');
echo $this->Form->input('mainAddressPostCode');
echo $this->Form->input('mainAddressCountry');
echo $this->Form->input('notes', array('rows' => '5'));
echo $this->Form->end('Save Customer');
?>
</div>
</div>
Controller (ContactController.php)
class ContactsController extends AppController {
public $helpers = array('Html', 'Form', 'Session');
public $components = array('Session');
public function index() {
$this->set('contacts', $this->Contact->find('all'));
}
public function view($id) {
if (!$id) {
throw new NotFoundException(__('Invalid contact'));
}
$contact = $this->Contact->findById($id);
if (!$contact) {
throw new NotFoundException(__('Invalid contact'));
}
$this->set('contact', $contact);
}
public function add() {
if ($this->request->is('post')) {
$this->Contact->create();
if ($this->Contact->save($this->request->data)) {
$this->Session->setFlash('Your contact has been saved.');
$this->redirect(array('action' => 'index'));
} else {
$this->Session->setFlash('Unable to add your contact.');
}
}
}
}
Model (Contact.php)
class Contact extends AppModel {
}
Any help appreciated.
Regards,
Stephen

Answer 1

If your view file is index.ctp, that means that by default the logic thta is handled for it is in the index() method of your Controller. That method only sets a variable. I'm assuming you're mixing up the view/action. Try adding your form in the add.ctp view instead and call the contacts/add URI.
Alternatively you can override the view to be rendered by adding a $this->render call to your add() method:
public function add() {
$this->autoRender = false;
// Rest of your logic
$this->render('index');
}
That way the contacts/add URI will serve the index.ctp view instead of add.ctp.