PhalconPHP model

Question

I have two questions related to models in Phalcon, that I am struggling to find an answer for:

1. How do I access the Dependecy Injector in a model?
2. Is it plausible to create a model that is not binded to a database table? If it isn't then where should I put logic that doesn't need to be stored (some functions to work with an API)?

Answer 1

You can access the Di from anywhere in the code by using the getDefault() function

$di = \Phalcon\DI\FactoryDefault::getDefault();

You can extend the Phalcon model to expose certain functionality and extend your models using that one. For instance consider the following model that offers a bit more functionality (you can always extend it as you wish. In the example below I am showing how to use the builder to construct your queries and also a function that can be used to fetch a schema for a particular model.

class MyModel extends \Phalcon\Mvc\Model
{
    protected static function di()
    {
        return \Phalcon\DI\FactoryDefault::getDefault();
    }

    public static function fetchSchema()
    {
        return "schema generators";
    }

    public static function fetchById($id)
    {
        $results = null;

        try {

            $builder = self::getBuilder();

            $field = 'id';

            $bind[$field] = $id;

            $builder->where("{$field} = :{$field}:");

            $query = $builder->getQuery();

            // One record is needed here so set the unique row
            $query->setUniqueRow(true);

            // Execute!
            $results[] = $query->execute($bind);

        } catch (\Exception $e) {

            $results = self::exceptionToArray($e);

        }

        return $results;
    }

    protected static function getBuilder()
    {
        $di      = self::di();
        $manager = $di['modelsManager'];
        $builder = $manager->createBuilder();
        $builder->from(get_called_class());

        return $builder;
    }

    protected static function execute($builder, $bind, $unique = false)
    {
        $query = $builder->getQuery();

        // One record is needed here so set the unique row
        $query->setUniqueRow($unique);

        // Execute!
        $results = $query->execute($bind);

        if (!$results || count($results) == 0) {
            $results = array();
        }

        return $results;
    }

    protected static function exceptionToArray($exception)
    {
        $results['error'] = array(
            'code'            => $exception->getCode(),
            'file'            => $exception->getFile(),
            'line'            => $exception->getLine(),
            'message'         => $exception->getMessage(),
            'trace'           => $exception->getTrace(),
            'trace_as_string' => $exception->getTraceAsString()
        );

        return $results;
    }
}