cakephp: using a join for search results - cakephp

Question

I've completely confused myself now.
I have three tables: applicants, applicants_qualifications, and qualifications.
In the index view for applicants, I have a form with a dropdown of qualifications. The results should be a list of applicants with that qualification.
So I need the table of applicants on the index view to be based on a join, right?
If I add this to my applicants_controller:
$options['joins'] = array(
array(
'table' => 'applicants_qualifications',
'alias' => 'q',
'type' => 'left outer', // so that I get applicants with no qualifications too
'conditions' => array('Applicant.id = q.applicant_id',)
)
);
$this->Applicant->find('all', $options);
I get an additional sql statement at the bottom of the page, with the left outer join but the sql without the join is there too.
I think this line:
$this->set('applicants', $this->paginate());
calls the sql statement without the join.
Looks like I need to combine the join $options with the paginate call. Is that right?
If I use the search form, I get: Unknown column 'Qualifications.qualification_id' in 'where clause'
So the page is obviously not yet 'using' my sql with the join.
Sorry - I'm still a noob. Any help appreciated...

Answer 1

In order to set conditions, joins, etc for your model's pagination, you must do it as follows:
function admin_index() {
$this->Applicant->recursive = 0;
$this->paginate = array(
'Applicant' => array(
// 'conditions' => array('Applicant.approved' => true),
'joins' => array(
array(
'table' => 'applicants_qualifications',
'alias' => 'ApplicationsQualification',
'type' => 'left outer',
'conditions' => array('Applicant.id = ApplicationsQualification.applicant_id')
)
)
// 'order' => array('Applicant.joined DESC')
)
);
$this->set('applicants', $this->paginate());
}
I've commented out some sample keys that you can include later on - just to give you an idea of how it works.
Hope that helps!

Answer 2

You can use inner join instead of left outer join.For eg.
in cource controller
$cond = array(
array(
'table' => 'colleges',
'alias' => 'Colleges',
'type' => 'inner',
'conditions'=> array('Colleges.college_id = Courses.college_id')
)
) ;
$courses = $this->Courses->find('all',
array('joins' =>$cond,'conditions' => array("Courses.status ='1' AND Colleges.status='1' "),
'order'=>array('course_name'),
'fields' => array('course_id','course_name'),'group'=>'Courses.course_id'
)
);