CakePHP save field to associated table - cakephp

Question

I have my 'PatientCase' model with a hasOne relationship to my 'PatientCaseOrder' model. (This table simply stored the patientCase id along with an integer position)
I am using an ajax function to update the position fields in 'PatientCaseOrder' using the function below in my PatientCase controller
public function update_position(){
Configure::write('debug', 0);
$this->autoRender = false;
$this->loadModel('PatientCaseOrder');
$list = $_POST['list'];
$errs = false;
if($list){
foreach($list as $position){
$id = $position[0];
$pos = $position[1];
$this->PatientCase->id = $id;
if(! $this->PatientCase->PatientCaseOrder->saveField('position', $pos))
$errs = true;
}
}
echo json_encode ($errs);
}
I am passing to it an array containing the PatientCaseId and position.
The code produces a 500 server error, where am i going wrong, or am i taking the wrong approach to this?
NOTE: I previously had the position field in the PatientCase model, and this line of code worked with the above segment of code
$this->PatientCase->saveField('position', $pos)

Answer 1

You need to change your controller function for better debugging:
change to Configure::write('debug', 2);
add $this->layout = 'ajax';
and change : if(! $this->PatientCase->PatientCaseOrder->saveField('position', $pos))
$errs = true;
to:
pr($this->PatientCase->PatientCaseOrder->saveField('position', $pos)); die;
and then in your ajax function log the callback
console.log(returned_data);
and check for errors.