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diff --git a/guides/source/association_basics.md b/guides/source/association_basics.md index dd59e2a8df..91b268d766 100644 --- a/guides/source/association_basics.md +++ b/guides/source/association_basics.md @@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ end @customer.destroy ``` -With Active Record associations, we can streamline these — and other — operations by declaratively telling Rails that there is a connection between the two models. Here's the revised code for setting up customers and orders: +With Active Record associations, we can streamline these - and other - operations by declaratively telling Rails that there is a connection between the two models. Here's the revised code for setting up customers and orders: ```ruby class Customer < ActiveRecord::Base @@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ To learn more about the different types of associations, read the next section o The Types of Associations ------------------------- -In Rails, an _association_ is a connection between two Active Record models. Associations are implemented using macro-style calls, so that you can declaratively add features to your models. For example, by declaring that one model `belongs_to` another, you instruct Rails to maintain Primary Key–Foreign Key information between instances of the two models, and you also get a number of utility methods added to your model. Rails supports six types of associations: +In Rails, an _association_ is a connection between two Active Record models. Associations are implemented using macro-style calls, so that you can declaratively add features to your models. For example, by declaring that one model `belongs_to` another, you instruct Rails to maintain Primary Key-Foreign Key information between instances of the two models, and you also get a number of utility methods added to your model. Rails supports six types of associations: * `belongs_to` * `has_one` @@ -261,7 +261,10 @@ With `through: :sections` specified, Rails will now understand: ### The `has_one :through` Association -A `has_one :through` association sets up a one-to-one connection with another model. This association indicates that the declaring model can be matched with one instance of another model by proceeding _through_ a third model. For example, if each supplier has one account, and each account is associated with one account history, then the customer model could look like this: +A `has_one :through` association sets up a one-to-one connection with another model. This association indicates +that the declaring model can be matched with one instance of another model by proceeding _through_ a third model. +For example, if each supplier has one account, and each account is associated with one account history, then the +supplier model could look like this: ```ruby class Supplier < ActiveRecord::Base @@ -337,7 +340,7 @@ class CreateAssembliesAndParts < ActiveRecord::Migration t.timestamps end - create_table :assemblies_parts do |t| + create_table :assemblies_parts, id: false do |t| t.belongs_to :assembly t.belongs_to :part end @@ -572,7 +575,7 @@ end These need to be backed up by a migration to create the `assemblies_parts` table. This table should be created without a primary key: ```ruby -class CreateAssemblyPartJoinTable < ActiveRecord::Migration +class CreateAssembliesPartsJoinTable < ActiveRecord::Migration def change create_table :assemblies_parts, id: false do |t| t.integer :assembly_id @@ -693,6 +696,17 @@ There are a few limitations to `inverse_of` support: * They do not work with `:as` associations. * For `belongs_to` associations, `has_many` inverse associations are ignored. +Every association will attempt to automatically find the inverse association +and set the `:inverse_of` option heuristically (based on the association name). +Most associations with standard names will be supported. However, associations +that contain the following options will not have their inverses set +automatically: + +* :conditions +* :through +* :polymorphic +* :foreign_key + Detailed Association Reference ------------------------------ @@ -710,6 +724,7 @@ When you declare a `belongs_to` association, the declaring class automatically g * `association=(associate)` * `build_association(attributes = {})` * `create_association(attributes = {})` +* `create_association!(attributes = {})` In all of these methods, `association` is replaced with the symbol passed as the first argument to `belongs_to`. For example, given the declaration: @@ -726,6 +741,7 @@ customer customer= build_customer create_customer +create_customer! ``` NOTE: When initializing a new `has_one` or `belongs_to` association you must use the `build_` prefix to build the association, rather than the `association.build` method that would be used for `has_many` or `has_and_belongs_to_many` associations. To create one, use the `create_` prefix. @@ -766,6 +782,10 @@ The `create_association` method returns a new object of the associated type. Thi customer_name: "John Doe") ``` +##### `create_association!(attributes = {})` + +Does the same as `create_association` above, but raises `ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid` if the record is invalid. + #### Options for `belongs_to` @@ -845,7 +865,7 @@ Counter cache columns are added to the containing model's list of read-only attr ##### `:dependent` -If you set the `:dependent` option to `:destroy`, then deleting this object will call the `destroy` method on the associated object to delete that object. If you set the `:dependent` option to `:delete`, then deleting this object will delete the associated object _without_ calling its `destroy` method. +If you set the `:dependent` option to `:destroy`, then deleting this object will call the `destroy` method on the associated object to delete that object. If you set the `:dependent` option to `:delete`, then deleting this object will delete the associated object _without_ calling its `destroy` method. If you set the `:dependent` option to `:restrict`, then attempting to delete this object will result in a `ActiveRecord::DeleteRestrictionError` if there are any associated objects. WARNING: You should not specify this option on a `belongs_to` association that is connected with a `has_many` association on the other class. Doing so can lead to orphaned records in your database. @@ -936,7 +956,7 @@ end ##### `includes` -You can use the `includes` method let you specify second-order associations that should be eager-loaded when this association is used. For example, consider these models: +You can use the `includes` method to specify second-order associations that should be eager-loaded when this association is used. For example, consider these models: ```ruby class LineItem < ActiveRecord::Base @@ -1008,6 +1028,7 @@ When you declare a `has_one` association, the declaring class automatically gain * `association=(associate)` * `build_association(attributes = {})` * `create_association(attributes = {})` +* `create_association!(attributes = {})` In all of these methods, `association` is replaced with the symbol passed as the first argument to `has_one`. For example, given the declaration: @@ -1024,6 +1045,7 @@ account account= build_account create_account +create_account! ``` NOTE: When initializing a new `has_one` or `belongs_to` association you must use the `build_` prefix to build the association, rather than the `association.build` method that would be used for `has_many` or `has_and_belongs_to_many` associations. To create one, use the `create_` prefix. @@ -1062,6 +1084,10 @@ The `create_association` method returns a new object of the associated type. Thi @account = @supplier.create_account(terms: "Net 30") ``` +##### `create_association!(attributes = {})` + +Does the same as `create_association` above, but raises `ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid` if the record is invalid. + #### Options for `has_one` While Rails uses intelligent defaults that will work well in most situations, there may be times when you want to customize the behavior of the `has_one` association reference. Such customizations can easily be accomplished by passing options when you create the association. For example, this association uses two such options: @@ -1109,11 +1135,17 @@ end Controls what happens to the associated object when its owner is destroyed: * `:destroy` causes the associated object to also be destroyed -* `:delete` causes the asssociated object to be deleted directly from the database (so callbacks will not execute) +* `:delete` causes the associated object to be deleted directly from the database (so callbacks will not execute) * `:nullify` causes the foreign key to be set to `NULL`. Callbacks are not executed. * `:restrict_with_exception` causes an exception to be raised if there is an associated record * `:restrict_with_error` causes an error to be added to the owner if there is an associated object +It's necessary not to set or leave `:nullify` option for those associations +that have `NOT NULL` database constraints. If you don't set `dependent` to +destroy such associations you won't be able to change the associated object +because initial associated object foreign key will be set to unallowed `NULL` +value. + ##### `:foreign_key` By convention, Rails assumes that the column used to hold the foreign key on the other model is the name of this model with the suffix `_id` added. The `:foreign_key` option lets you set the name of the foreign key directly: @@ -1274,6 +1306,7 @@ When you declare a `has_many` association, the declaring class automatically gai * `collection.exists?(...)` * `collection.build(attributes = {}, ...)` * `collection.create(attributes = {})` +* `collection.create!(attributes = {})` In all of these methods, `collection` is replaced with the symbol passed as the first argument to `has_many`, and `collection_singular` is replaced with the singularized version of that symbol. For example, given the declaration: @@ -1301,6 +1334,7 @@ orders.where(...) orders.exists?(...) orders.build(attributes = {}, ...) orders.create(attributes = {}) +orders.create!(attributes = {}) ``` ##### `collection(force_reload = false)` @@ -1416,6 +1450,10 @@ The `collection.create` method returns a new object of the associated type. This order_number: "A12345") ``` +##### `collection.create!(attributes = {})` + +Does the same as `collection.create` above, but raises `ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid` if the record is invalid. + #### Options for `has_many` While Rails uses intelligent defaults that will work well in most situations, there may be times when you want to customize the behavior of the `has_many` association reference. Such customizations can easily be accomplished by passing options when you create the association. For example, this association uses two such options: @@ -1463,7 +1501,7 @@ end Controls what happens to the associated objects when their owner is destroyed: * `:destroy` causes all the associated objects to also be destroyed -* `:delete_all` causes all the asssociated objects to be deleted directly from the database (so callbacks will not execute) +* `:delete_all` causes all the associated objects to be deleted directly from the database (so callbacks will not execute) * `:nullify` causes the foreign keys to be set to `NULL`. Callbacks are not executed. * `:restrict_with_exception` causes an exception to be raised if there are any associated records * `:restrict_with_error` causes an error to be added to the owner if there are any associated objects @@ -1500,6 +1538,20 @@ end By convention, Rails assumes that the column used to hold the primary key of the association is `id`. You can override this and explicitly specify the primary key with the `:primary_key` option. +Let's say that `users` table has `id` as the primary_key but it also has +`guid` column. And the requirement is that `todos` table should hold +`guid` column value and not `id` value. This can be achieved like this + +```ruby +class User < ActiveRecord::Base + has_many :todos, primary_key: :guid +end +``` + +Now if we execute `@user.todos.create` then `@todo` record will have +`user_id` value as the `guid` value of `@user`. + + ##### `:source` The `:source` option specifies the source association name for a `has_many :through` association. You only need to use this option if the name of the source association cannot be automatically inferred from the association name. @@ -1648,9 +1700,10 @@ The `select` method lets you override the SQL `SELECT` clause that is used to re WARNING: If you specify your own `select`, be sure to include the primary key and foreign key columns of the associated model. If you do not, Rails will throw an error. -##### `uniq` +##### `distinct` -Use the `uniq` method to keep the collection free of duplicates. This is mostly useful together with the `:through` option. +Use the `distinct` method to keep the collection free of duplicates. This is +mostly useful together with the `:through` option. ```ruby class Person < ActiveRecord::Base @@ -1666,14 +1719,15 @@ person.posts.inspect # => [#<Post id: 5, name: "a1">, #<Post id: 5, name: "a1">] Reading.all.inspect # => [#<Reading id: 12, person_id: 5, post_id: 5>, #<Reading id: 13, person_id: 5, post_id: 5>] ``` -In the above case there are two readings and `person.posts` brings out both of them even though these records are pointing to the same post. +In the above case there are two readings and `person.posts` brings out both of +them even though these records are pointing to the same post. -Now let's set `uniq`: +Now let's set `distinct`: ```ruby class Person has_many :readings - has_many :posts, -> { uniq }, through: :readings + has_many :posts, -> { distinct }, through: :readings end person = Person.create(name: 'Honda') @@ -1684,7 +1738,29 @@ person.posts.inspect # => [#<Post id: 7, name: "a1">] Reading.all.inspect # => [#<Reading id: 16, person_id: 7, post_id: 7>, #<Reading id: 17, person_id: 7, post_id: 7>] ``` -In the above case there are still two readings. However `person.posts` shows only one post because the collection loads only unique records. +In the above case there are still two readings. However `person.posts` shows +only one post because the collection loads only unique records. + +If you want to make sure that, upon insertion, all of the records in the +persisted association are distinct (so that you can be sure that when you +inspect the association that you will never find duplicate records), you should +add a unique index on the table itself. For example, if you have a table named +`person_posts` and you want to make sure all the posts are unique, you could +add the following in a migration: + +```ruby +add_index :person_posts, :post, unique: true +``` + +Note that checking for uniqueness using something like `include?` is subject +to race conditions. Do not attempt to use `include?` to enforce distinctness +in an association. For instance, using the post example from above, the +following code would be racy because multiple users could be attempting this +at the same time: + +```ruby +person.posts << post unless person.posts.include?(post) +``` #### When are Objects Saved? @@ -1719,6 +1795,7 @@ When you declare a `has_and_belongs_to_many` association, the declaring class au * `collection.exists?(...)` * `collection.build(attributes = {})` * `collection.create(attributes = {})` +* `collection.create!(attributes = {})` In all of these methods, `collection` is replaced with the symbol passed as the first argument to `has_and_belongs_to_many`, and `collection_singular` is replaced with the singularized version of that symbol. For example, given the declaration: @@ -1746,6 +1823,7 @@ assemblies.where(...) assemblies.exists?(...) assemblies.build(attributes = {}, ...) assemblies.create(attributes = {}) +assemblies.create!(attributes = {}) ``` ##### Additional Column Methods @@ -1865,14 +1943,18 @@ The `collection.create` method returns a new object of the associated type. This @assembly = @part.assemblies.create({assembly_name: "Transmission housing"}) ``` +##### `collection.create!(attributes = {})` + +Does the same as `collection.create`, but raises `ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid` if the record is invalid. + #### Options for `has_and_belongs_to_many` While Rails uses intelligent defaults that will work well in most situations, there may be times when you want to customize the behavior of the `has_and_belongs_to_many` association reference. Such customizations can easily be accomplished by passing options when you create the association. For example, this association uses two such options: ```ruby class Parts < ActiveRecord::Base - has_and_belongs_to_many :assemblies, uniq: true, - read_only: true + has_and_belongs_to_many :assemblies, autosave: true, + readonly: true end ``` @@ -1884,6 +1966,7 @@ The `has_and_belongs_to_many` association supports these options: * `:foreign_key` * `:join_table` * `:validate` +* `:readonly` ##### `:association_foreign_key` @@ -1893,7 +1976,7 @@ TIP: The `:foreign_key` and `:association_foreign_key` options are useful when s ```ruby class User < ActiveRecord::Base - has_and_belongs_to_many :friends, + has_and_belongs_to_many :friends, class_name: "User", foreign_key: "this_user_id", association_foreign_key: "other_user_id" @@ -2098,7 +2181,7 @@ You're not limited to the functionality that Rails automatically builds into ass class Customer < ActiveRecord::Base has_many :orders do def find_by_order_prefix(order_number) - find_by_region_id(order_number[0..2]) + find_by(region_id: order_number[0..2]) end end end |