Re: [fw-db] Redundant information updates / Zend_Db_Mapper

With respect to Zend_Db_Mapper, the most likely approach I can think of
would be where you'd have "numberOfMessages" as a property of a "Folder"
entity object. You would code your logic to calculate the correct value
for this property, assign it, and then let the mapper update the DB just
as it would with any other property. The catch with this approach is
that the logic for keeping up with the count must be entirely within the
object model, therefore, any operation which directly updates the
database would bypass that. If you really want to guarantee that field
stays in sync in the database, you really do need triggers and proper
transaction isolation.

Regards,
Bryce Lohr

Moritz Mertinkat wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I've a question regarding best practices for updating redundant
> information without using triggers. I know I could use triggers for
> simple tasks, but it's not always an option.
>
> Let's assume I have folders and messages with each folder having a
> numberOfMessages property. Thus, everytime I'm adding or deleting a
> message I have to adjust this property (also when moving a message
> from one folder to another).
>
> Currently I'm working with Zend_Db_Table_Row_Abstract derived "value
> objects" (Row_Message and Row_Folder) and Zend_Db_Table_Abstract
> derived "gateway objects" (Table_Message and Table_Folder).
> I'm also using two models called Model_Message and (surprise!)
> Model_Folder.
>
> The message model has methods like
> - add(array $data) : void
> - delete($primaryKey) : void
> - get($primaryKey) : Message_Row
> - move(Row_Message $message, $folderId) : void
> - moveToSpam(Row_Message $message) : void
>
> Now the question is: where should I update the folder's message count?
>
> First I implemented it in Model_Message's add(), delete() and move()
> methods, but that seemed to be a bit naive, because one could simple
> do something like
> $message = $messageModel->get(17);
> $message->folder_id = 3;
> $message->save();
> and nothing got updated in the old and new folder records.
>
> So I moved the count update stuff to Row_Message using _postDelete(),
> _postInsert() and _postUpdate() methods and doing some plain vanilla
> queries to update the folder record(s). (I could've used Row_Folder,
> but that would be a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, I
> thought).
>
> What do you think about this approach? Is it "common"?
>
> And what about this issue regarding the proposed Zend_Db_Mapper?
> http://framework.zend.com/wiki/display/ZFPROP/Zend_Db_Mapper+-+Benjamin+Eberlei
>
> Will there be a possibility to achieve things like these?
>
> Looking forward to your feedback :-)
>
> Best regards,
> Moritz
>