When to use Entity Manager in Symfony2 - symfony

At the moment I am learning how to use Symfony2. I got to the point where they explain how to use Doctrine.
In the examples given they sometimes use the entity manager:
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getEntityManager();
$products = $em->getRepository('AcmeStoreBundle:Product')
->findAllOrderedByName();
and in other examples the entity manager is not used:
$product = $this->getDoctrine()
->getRepository('AcmeStoreBundle:Product')
->find($id);
So I actually tried the first example without getting the entity manager:
$repository = $this->getDoctrine()
->getRepository('AcmeStoreBundle:Product');
$products = $repository->findAllOrderedByName();
and got the same results.
So when do i actually need the entity manager and when is it OK to just go for the repository at once?

Looking at Controller getDoctrine() equals to $this->get('doctrine'), an instance of Symfony\Bundle\DoctrineBundle\Registry. Registry provides:
getEntityManager() returning Doctrine\ORM\EntityManager, which in turn provides getRepository()
getRepository() returning Doctrine\ORM\EntityRepository
Thus, $this->getDoctrine()->getRepository() equals $this->getDoctrine()->getEntityManager()->getRepository().
Entity manager is useful when you want to persist or remove an entity:
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getEntityManager();
$em->persist($myEntity);
$em->flush();
If you are just fetching data, you can get only the repository:
$repository = $this->getDoctrine()->getRepository('AcmeStoreBundle:Product');
$product = $repository->find(1);
Or better, if you are using custom repositories, wrap getRepository() in a controller function as you can get auto-completition feature from your IDE:
/**
* #return \Acme\HelloBundle\Repository\ProductRepository
*/
protected function getProductRepository()
{
return $this->getDoctrine()->getRepository('AcmeHelloBundle:Product');
}

I think that the getDoctrine()->getRepository() is simply a shortcut to getDoctrine()->getEntityManager()->getRepository(). Did not check the source code, but sounds rather reasonable to me.

If you plan to do multiple operations with the entity manager (like get a repository, persist an entity, flush, etc), then get the entity manager first and store it in a variable. Otherwise, you can get the repository from the entity manager and call whatever method you want on the repository class all in one line. Both ways will work. It's just a matter of coding style and your needs.

Related

What is the best way to create a singleton entity in Symfony 4?

I want to create a settings page, which only has a form in it. If the form is submitted it only updates settings entity but never creates another one. Currently, I achieved this like:
/**
* #param SettingsRepository $settingsRepository
* #return Settings
*/
public function getEntity(SettingsRepository $settingsRepository): Settings
{
$settings = $settingsRepository->find(1);
if($settings == null)
{
$settings = new Settings();
}
return $settings;
}
In SettingsController I call getEntity() method which returns new Settings entity (if the setting were not set yet) or already existing Settings entity (if setting were set at least once).
However my solution is quite ugly and it has hardcoded entity id "1", so I'm looking for a better solution.
Settings controller:
public function index(
Request $request,
SettingsRepository $settingsRepository,
FlashBagInterface $flashBag,
TranslatorInterface $translator,
SettingsService $settingsService
): Response
{
// getEntity() method above
$settings = $settingsService->getEntity($settingsRepository);
$settingsForm = $this->createForm(SettingsType::class, $settings);
$settingsForm->handleRequest($request);
if ($settingsForm->isSubmitted() && $settingsForm->isValid()) {
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
$em->persist($settings);
$em->flush();
return $this->redirectToRoute('app_admin_settings_index');
}
return $this->render(
'admin/settings/index.html.twig',
[
'settings_form' => $settingsForm->createView(),
]
);
}
You could use Doctrine Embeddables here.
Settings, strictly speaking, should not be mapped to entities, since they are not identifiable, nor meant to be. That is, of course, a matter of debate. Really, a Settings object is more of a value object than an entity. Read here for more info.
So, in cases like these better than having a one to one relationship and all that fuzz, you probably will be fine with a simple Value Object called settings, that will be mapped to the database as a Doctrine Embeddable.
You can make this object a singleton by creating instances of it only in factory methods, making the constructor private, preventing cloning and all that. Usually, it is enough only making it immutable, meaning, no behavior can alter it's state. If you need to mutate it, then the method responsible for that should create a new instance of it.
You can have a a method like this Settings::createFromArray() and antoher called Settings::createDefaults() that you will use when you new up an entity: always default config.
Then, the setSettings method on your entity receieves only a settings object as an argument.
If you don't like inmutablity, you can also make setter methods for the Settings object.

multiple entitymanager symfony

Before I used only one entity manager to interact with my database.
Everything worked well till I add 2 new entity manager (one entity manager to insert data and one entity manager to select data)
-> I want to make a replication of my database later.
I think, I can solve the problem alone, but I just want to understand why this error appears :
A new entity was found through the relationship 'AppBundle\Entity\Userinterest#user'
that was not configured to cascade persist operations for entity: my_username.
To solve this issue: Either explicitly call EntityManager#persist() on this unknown entity
or configure cascade persist this association in the mapping for example
#ManyToOne(..,cascade={"persist"})
I think, I understand the problem :) :
My User from FOSUserBundle is authenticate with the default entity manager.
$userinteret->setUser($this->getUser());
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
$em->persist($userinteret);
$em->flush();
Then, I don't know how is stored the token_storage. But because I use the user from the token_storage, I think the probem come from there.
Try with :
// All 3 return the "default" entity manager
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager('default');
$em = $this->get('doctrine.orm.default_entity_manager');
// Both of these return the "customer" entity manager
$customerEm = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager('customer');
$customerEm = $this->get('doctrine.orm.customer_entity_manager');
How to Work with multiple Entity Managers and Connections

Symfony - Get Entity from within another entity

I would like to retrieve a record from another entity (or record from the DB) within a entity.
They there are no relationship between the two entities.
I am using #ORM\HasLifecycleCallbacks() and #ORM\PrePersist so when the main entity is created it will also create another entity (save a record to another table)
The above is working fine, there are no issues with this.
What I am having an issue with is I would like to link that entity with another table but I need to retrieve the object based on the value of the first entity.
Usually I would write a function in the entity repository but I am not calling the entity manager within the entity.
An Entity in Doctrine is an object representation of a concept, with attributes and methods. It is meant to be lightweight, a POPO (plain old php object). It must not know anything about its persistence. Therefore if you see reference to the EntityManager in a model, it probably stinks.
Solutions? You could use an entity listener called on entity creation and then use a service dedicated only to properly compose your object(s), maybe something like a Factory. In this way, your entity stays lightweight, the lifecycle management is satisfied and the entity composing is responsibility only of your service.
Entity manager is accessible in an entity repository. You can legally use it to fetch data from other entities and to compose your business logic. This is what entity repositories are made for: Doctrine Custom Repositories, Symfony Custom Repository Classes.
/**
* #ORM\Entity
*/
class Beta {}
/**
* #ORM\Entity
*/
class Alpha {}
class AlphaRepository extends EntityRepository
{
public function getDataFromAnotherEntity($something)
{
$query = 'select * from MyBundle\Entity\Alpha alpha where alpha.id = :something';
return $this->getEntityManager()
->createQuery($query)
->setParameter('something', $something)
->getResult();
}
}
In Symfony 3.1 you can use the entityManager to set a reference. This is still lightweight as it does not instance a complete Doctrine Record.
Example: I have an entity Status which has some states, and it's referenced in another entity. On create i use this method inside EventSubscriber:
public function preAction(LifecycleEventArgs $args)
{
$entity = $args->getObject();
$entityManager = $args->getObjectManager();
if (method_exists($entity, 'setStatus')) {
if ($entity->getStatus() === null) {
$entity->setStatus($entityManager->getReference('AppBundle\Entity\Status', Status::STATUS_REGULAR));
}
}
}

Can i use getDoctrine and getManager in an entity? I'm sorry but i don't understand how this works

I want to use the getDoctrine and getManager functions in an entity. Is this possible? or is there any way arround this? I want to insert something in a database like this :
$history = new Policy();
$history->setName($file1->getClientOriginalName());
$history->setPolicyNumber($this->getPolicyNumber());
$history->setOrderId($this->getOrderId());
$history->setPath($this->getPathFile1());
$history->setDocumentType($this->getDocument1Type());
$history->setPrintAction($this);
$em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
$em->persist($history);
$em->flush();
With Doctrine ORM, Entities have an unique role : data containers!
According to Doctrine architecture, there is no reason to inject EntityManager inside.
If you need to do that, you're trying to put some code of the Business layer into layer.
So try to move your code into a service, like a manager for your Entity or if you're lazy in a controller but it's a bit crapy.
I would venture to first answer the question, and then give out advice.
If you look into source code of Doctrine2, you may to find this method in Doctrine\ORM\UnitOfWork:
/**
* #param ClassMetadata $class
*
* #return \Doctrine\Common\Persistence\ObjectManagerAware|object
*/
private function newInstance($class)
{
$entity = $class->newInstance();
if ($entity instanceof \Doctrine\Common\Persistence\ObjectManagerAware) {
$entity->injectObjectManager($this->em, $class);
}
return $entity;
}
So... it means, if your entity implements \Doctrine\Common\Persistence\ObjectManagerAware you will have EntityManager inside Doctrine2 entity. That's it.
Now advice:
IT'S REALLY BAD PRACTICE, AND NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE.
From PhpDoc of \Doctrine\Common\Persistence\ObjectManagerAware interface:
Word of Warning: This is a very powerful hook to change how you can work with your domain models.
Using this hook will break the Single Responsibility Principle inside your Domain Objects
and increase the coupling of database and objects.

Using distinct Doctrine2

I am developing an application in symfony2 and using doctrine2. I created a custom repository class that has one function:
<?php
namespace Anotatzailea\AnotatzaileaBundle\Repository;
use Doctrine\ORM\EntityRepository;
/**
* InterpretatzeaRepository
*
* This class was generated by the Doctrine ORM. Add your own custom
* repository methods below.
*/
class InterpretatzeaRepository extends EntityRepository
{
public function getInterpDesberdinak($value)
{
$qb = $this->createQueryBuilder('c')
->select('DISTINCT c.attribute')
->where('c.fer = :Value')
->setParameter('Value', $value);
$Emaitza = $qb->getQuery()->getResult();
return $Emaitza;
}
}
What I want to get with this function is an array of all the "Interpretatzea" objects that have a distinct c.attribute and all have c.fer = value. Is the query correct? I would also want to know how to pass the value parameter to the repository function. Thanks
A cursory look at your repository method suggests it looks okay :) IIRC, I think the use of DISTINCT there is fine. If you do have problems you can always do a GROUP BY instead.
As for calling the repo method in a controller and passing a $value variable to it, that's pretty straightforward; for example:
// in your controller
$value = 'foo';
// get doctrine connection from DI, etc.
$em = $this->getDoctrine()
->getEntityManager();
// get the repository object for your
// entity and call your repository method
$result = $em->getRepository('AnotatzaileaAnotatzaileaBundle:Interpretatzea')
->getInterpDesberdinak($value);
// ... do something with your $result here
Note you use a concatenated version of your namespace and bundle, followed by a colon and the entity; e.g: AcmeTestBundle:User
Hope this helps :)

Resources