Change type attribute to convert a model to another about single-table-inheritance

[wtfz]

I would like to add a workaround for others who have the same issue. You can use saveQuietly() to save the model without dispatching any event (skip saving method in the package observer). However, you need to manually re-update the updated_at (or other column other than single table column) using new instance to dispatch the saving event back for other observer.

$instance = Model::find($id);
$instance->type = '\Other\Type\Class';
$instance->saveQuietly();

$newInstance = Model::find($id);
$newInstance->update['updated_at' => now()];  // manually update to trigger other observer

In my use case, I used the subclass for historical record in my approval process. When new record type approved, it will switched to current type and previous current type will switched to historical type.

[jonspalmer]

That isn't really how the plugin works. The type column is infer from the Class of the Model object. What is the use case for trying to change it like this?

[sylvainma]

I have one table users et I use Nanigans/single-table-inheritance on it to host two models: Users and Members. I have the column type to set which class a row belongs to (user or member).

I want to convert some rows from model User to Member (when a user gets advanced permissions on my application). So, I was thinking about changing the type column directly for that, from user to member.

So you think I am using Nanigans/single-table-inheritance in a wrong way?

[jonspalmer]

If you have a User that you want to turn into a Member I think you'd want to create and Member model from the User model with the same properties and importantly the same id and then save that back.

[kentdahl]

Since I ran into the same kind of issue, I'd just like to note that I ended up using the global update functionality of Eloquent instead. Something like:

Model::where('id', '=', $id)->update(['type' => 'other']);

This seems to work well so far.