++++ Introduction

{{Doctrine_Record}} is a wrapper for database row but along with that it speficies what relations it has
on other components and what columns it has. It may access the related components, hence its refered as an ActiveRecord.

The classes that inherit {{Doctrine_Record}} are called components. There should be atleast one component for each database table.  


++++ Creating new records

There are couple of ways for creating new records. Propably the easiest is using native php new -operator. The other ways are calling {{Doctrine_Table::create()}} or {{Doctrine_Connection::create()}}. The last two exists only for backward compatibility. The recommended way of creating new objects is the new operator.

<code type="php">
$user = $conn->create("User");

// alternative way:

$table = $conn->getTable("User");

$user = $table->create();

// the simpliest way:

$user = new User();


// records support array access
$user["name"] = "John Locke";

// save user into database
$user->save();
</code>


++++ Retrieving existing records

Doctrine provides many ways for record retrieval. The fastest ways for retrieving existing records are the finder methods provided by {{Doctrine_Table}}. If you need to use more complex queries take a look at DQL API and {{Doctrine_Connection::query}} method.

<code type="php">
$table = $conn->getTable("User");

// find by primary key

$user = $table->find(2);
if($user !== false)
    print $user->name;

// get all users
foreach($table->findAll() as $user) {
    print $user->name;
}

// finding by dql
foreach($table->findByDql("name LIKE '%John%'") as $user) {
    print $user->created;
}

// finding objects with DQL

$users = $conn->query("FROM User WHERE User.name LIKE '%John%'");
</code>


++++ Accessing properties

You can retrieve existing objects (database rows) with {{Doctrine_Table}} or {{Doctrine_Connection}}. {{Doctrine_Table}} provides simple methods like {{findBySql}}, {{findAll}} and find for finding objects whereas {{Doctrine_Connection}} provides complete OQL API for retrieving objects (see chapter 9). 

<code type="php">
$user = $table->find(3);

// access property through overloading

$name = $user->name;

// access property with get()

$name = $user->get("name");

// access property with ArrayAccess interface

$name = $user['name'];

// iterating through properties

foreach($user as $key => $value) {

}
</code>


++++ Updating records

Updating objects is very easy, you just call the {{Doctrine_Record::save()}} method. The other way (perhaps even easier) is to call {{Doctrine_Connection::flush()}} which saves all objects. It should be noted though that flushing is a much heavier operation than just calling save method.

<code type="php">
$table = $conn->getTable("User");


$user = $table->find(2);

if($user !== false) {
    $user->name = "Jack Daniels";
    
    $user->save();
}
</code>


++++ Deleting records

Deleting records in Doctrine is handled by {{Doctrine_Record::delete()}}, {{Doctrine_Collection::delete()}} and {{Doctrine_Connection::delete()}} methods.

<code type="php">
$table = $conn->getTable("User");

$user = $table->find(2);

// deletes user and all related composite objects
if($user !== false)
    $user->delete();


$users = $table->findAll();


// delete all users and their related composite objects
$users->delete();
</code>


++++ Getting record state

{{Every Doctrine_Record}} has a state. First of all record can be transient or persistent. Every record that is retrieved from database is persistent and every newly created record is transient. If a {{Doctrine_Record}} is retrieved from database but the only loaded property is its primary key, then this record has a state called proxy.

Every transient and persistent {{Doctrine_Record}} is either clean or dirty. {{Doctrine_Record}} is clean when none of its properties are changed and dirty when atleast one of its properties has changed. 

<code type="php">
$state = $record->state();

switch($state):
    case Doctrine_Record::STATE_PROXY:
        // record is in proxy state, 
        // meaning its persistent but not all of its properties are
        // loaded from the database
    break;
    case Doctrine_Record::STATE_TCLEAN:
        // record is transient clean,
        // meaning its transient and 
        // none of its properties are changed
    break;
    case Doctrine_Record::STATE_TDIRTY:
        // record is transient dirty,
        // meaning its transient and 
        // some of its properties are changed
    break;
    case Doctrine_Record::STATE_DIRTY:
        // record is dirty, 
        // meaning its persistent and 
        // some of its properties are changed
    break;
    case Doctrine_Record::STATE_CLEAN:
        // record is clean,
        // meaning its persistent and 
        // none of its properties are changed
    break;
endswitch;
</code>


++++ Getting object copy

Sometimes you may want to get a copy of your object (a new object with all properties copied). Doctrine provides a simple method for this: {{Doctrine_Record::copy()}}.

<code type="php">
$copy = $user->copy();
</code>


++++ Serializing

Sometimes you may want to serialize your record objects (possibly for caching purposes). Records can be serialized, but remember: Doctrine cleans all relations, before doing this. So remember to persist your objects into database before serializing them.

<code type="php">
$string = serialize($user);

$user = unserialize($string);
</code>


++++ Checking Existence

<code type="php">
$record = new User();

$record->exists(); // false

$record->name = 'someone';
$record->save();

$record->exists(); // true
</code>


++++ Callbacks
