Multiple models and uploading files - file

Question

At first - I'm new to the Yii Framework. I did some research on my own but I couldn't find a precise solution to my issue.
Assume there are two related models - Product and Image. A single Product may have multiple Images assigned. What is the best approach at creating the create / update forms that would be able to manage this kind of scheme?
The Image model consists of various fields, along with a path to the image file, so it's not just a "container" for the path itself. What's more - I need to have a thumbnail generated for every uploaded image and its path stored within the same model.
What I need to achieve is pretty much similar to the admin inline functionality known from Django - there should be a section in the Product create / update form which would allow users to add / modify / delete Images.
I tried the multimodelform extension but I couldn't get file uploading to work. What's the best way of getting it done and not having to build the whole file-upload-enabled-multiple-model-form structure manually?

Answer 1

The detailed solution depends on if you are using CActiveForm or CHtml form. Since you have 2 related models I assume you are using CActiveForm and will point out some thing you need to keep in mind.
For this example i am gonna assume some definitions
Product with fields id, name
Product with ONE to MANY relation to 'images' on ProductImage
ProductImage with fields id, productId, path
I also assume there gonna be 1 upload / edit, but multi delete
Here's the view:
$form = $this->beginWidget(
'CActiveForm',
array(
'id' => 'upload-form',
'enableAjaxValidation' => false,
'htmlOptions' => array('enctype' => 'multipart/form-data'),
)
);
echo $form->labelEx($product, 'name');
echo $form->fileField($product, 'name');
echo $form->error($product, 'name');
echo $form->checkBoxList($product, 'path', $product->images);
echo $form->labelEx($productImage, 'path');
echo $form->fileField($productImage, 'path');
echo $form->error($productImage, 'path');
$this->endWidget();
And your action
public function actionUpdate($productId) {
$product = Product::model()->findByPk($productId)->with('images');
$productImage = new ProductImage();
if(isset($_POST['Item']))
{
$product->attributes=$_POST['Product'];
foreach($product->images as $im) {
if(in_array($im->path, $_POST['Item']['Image']))
$im->delete();
}
$productImage->image=CUploadedFile::getInstance($productImage,'path');
if($productImage->save())
{
$productImage->image->saveAs('some/new/path');
// redirect to success page
}
}
$this->render('update', array(
'product'=>$product,
'productImage'=>$productImage,
));
}
Now note that this solution is not tested so there will be bugs, but it should give you an idea on how to write your own form.
Resources:
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/2/how-to-upload-a-file-using-a-model/
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/384/creating-and-updating-model-and-its-related-models-in-one-form-inc-image