Beefed up docs/db-api.txt, adding a section for each automatic module-level API function -- and optional ones, too

git-svn-id: http://code.djangoproject.com/svn/django/trunk@688 bcc190cf-cafb-0310-a4f2-bffc1f526a37
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Adrian Holovaty 2005-09-25 21:47:31 +00:00
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@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
Database API reference
======================
Once you've created your `data models`_, you'll need to lookup data from the
Once you've created your `data models`_, you'll need to retrieve data from the
database. This document explains the database abstraction API derived from the
models, and how to create, retrieve, and update objects.
models, and how to create, retrieve and update objects.
.. _`data models`: http://www.djangoproject.com/documentation/model_api/
@ -16,20 +16,121 @@ Throughout this reference, we'll refer to the following Poll application::
pub_date = meta.DateTimeField()
expire_date = meta.DateTimeField()
def __repr__(self):
return self.question
class Choice(meta.Model):
poll = meta.ForeignKey(Poll, edit_inline=meta.TABULAR,
num_in_admin=10, min_num_in_admin=5)
choice = meta.CharField(maxlength=255, core=True)
votes = meta.IntegerField(editable=False, default=0)
def __repr__(self):
return self.choice
Basic lookup functions
======================
Each model exposes three basic functions for lookups: ``get_object``,
``get_list``, and ``get_count``. These functions all take the same arguments,
but ``get_object`` assumes that only a single record will be returned (and
raises ``AssertionError`` if that's not true), ``get_count`` simply returns a
count of objects matched by the lookup, and ``get_list`` returns a list of objects.
Each model exposes these module-level functions for lookups:
get_object(**kwargs)
--------------------
Returns the object matching the given lookup parameters, which should be in
the format described in "Field lookups" below. Raises a module-level
``*DoesNotExist`` exception if an object wasn't found for the given parameters.
Raises ``AssertionError`` if more than one object was found.
get_list(**kwargs)
------------------
Returns a list of objects matching the given lookup parameters, which should be
in the format described in "Field lookups" below. If no objects match the given
parameters, it returns an empty list. ``get_list()`` will always return a list.
get_iterator(**kwargs)
----------------------
Just like ``get_list()``, except it returns an iterator instead of a list. This
is more efficient for large result sets. This example shows the difference::
# get_list() loads all objects into memory.
for obj in foos.get_list():
print repr(obj)
# get_iterator() only loads a number of objects into memory at a time.
for obj in foos.get_iterator():
print repr(obj)
get_count(**kwargs)
-------------------
Returns an integer representing the number of objects in the database matching
the given lookup parameters, which should be in the format described in
"Field lookups" below. ``get_count()`` never raises exceptions
Depending on which database you're using (e.g. PostgreSQL vs. MySQL), this may
return a long integer instead of a normal Python integer.
get_values(**kwargs)
--------------------
Just like ``get_list()``, except it returns a list of dictionaries instead of
model-instance objects.
It accepts an optional parameter, ``fields``, which should be a list or tuple
of field names. If you don't specify ``fields``, each dictionary in the list
returned by ``get_values()`` will have a key and value for each field in the
database table. If you specify ``fields``, each dictionary will have only the
field keys/values for the fields you specify. Here's an example, using the
``Poll`` model defined above::
>>> from datetime import datetime
>>> p1 = polls.Poll(slug='whatsup', question="What's up?",
... pub_date=datetime(2005, 2, 20), expire_date=datetime(2005, 3, 20))
>>> p1.save()
>>> p2 = polls.Poll(slug='name', question="What's your name?",
... pub_date=datetime(2005, 3, 20), expire_date=datetime(2005, 4, 20))
>>> p2.save()
>>> polls.get_list()
[What's up?, What's your name?]
>>> polls.get_values()
[{'id': 1, 'slug': 'whatsup', 'question': "What's up?", 'pub_date': datetime.datetime(2005, 2, 20), 'expire_date': datetime.datetime(2005, 3, 20)},
{'id': 2, 'slug': 'name', 'question': "What's your name?", 'pub_date': datetime.datetime(2005, 3, 20), 'expire_date': datetime.datetime(2005, 4, 20)}]
>>> polls.get_values(fields=['id', 'slug'])
[{'id': 1, 'slug': 'whatsup'}, {'id': 2, 'slug': 'name'}]
Use ``get_values()`` when you know you're only going to need a couple of field
values and you won't need the functionality of a model instance object. It's
more efficient to select only the fields you need to use.
get_values_iterator(**kwargs)
-----------------------------
Just like ``get_values()``, except it returns an iterator instead of a list.
See the section on ``get_iterator()`` above.
get_in_bulk(id_list, **kwargs)
------------------------------
Takes a list of IDs and returns a dictionary mapping each ID to an instance of
the object with the given ID. Also takes optional keyword lookup arguments,
which should be in the format described in "Field lookups" below. Here's an
example, using the ``Poll`` model defined above::
>>> from datetime import datetime
>>> p1 = polls.Poll(slug='whatsup', question="What's up?",
... pub_date=datetime(2005, 2, 20), expire_date=datetime(2005, 3, 20))
>>> p1.save()
>>> p2 = polls.Poll(slug='name', question="What's your name?",
... pub_date=datetime(2005, 3, 20), expire_date=datetime(2005, 4, 20))
>>> p2.save()
>>> polls.get_list()
[What's up?, What's your name?]
>>> polls.get_in_bulk([1])
{1: What's up?}
>>> polls.get_in_bulk([1, 2])
{1: What's up?, 2: What's your name?}
Field lookups
=============
@ -115,6 +216,8 @@ statements are equivalent::
choices.get_list(poll__id__exact=3)
choices.get_list(poll__pk=3)
If you pass an invalid keyword argument, the function will raise ``TypeError``.
.. _`Keyword Arguments`: http://docs.python.org/tut/node6.html#SECTION006720000000000000000
Ordering
@ -337,7 +440,7 @@ of objects then calling save() on them::
Calling ``save()`` on an object with an id if ``None`` signifies to
Django that the object is new and should be inserted.
Related objects (i.e. ``Choices``) are created using convience functions::
Related objects (e.g. ``Choices``) are created using convenience functions::
>>> p.add_choice(choice="Over easy", votes=0)
>>> p.add_choice(choice="Scrambled", votes=0)
@ -346,12 +449,10 @@ Related objects (i.e. ``Choices``) are created using convience functions::
>>> p.get_choice_count()
4
Each of those ``add_choice`` methods is equivilent to (except obviously much
Each of those ``add_choice`` methods is equivalent to (except obviously much
simpler than)::
>>> c = polls.Choice(poll_id=p.id,
... choice="Over easy",
... votes=0)
>>> c = polls.Choice(poll_id=p.id, choice="Over easy", votes=0)
>>> c.save()
Note that when using the `add_foo()`` methods, you do not give any value
@ -361,4 +462,132 @@ the relation (``poll_id`` in this case).
Deleting objects
================
The delete method, conveniently, is named ``delete()``.
The delete method, conveniently, is named ``delete()``. This method immediately
deletes the object and has no return value. Example::
>>> c.delete()
Extra instance methods
======================
In addition to ``save()``, ``delete()`` and all of the ``add_*`` and ``get_*``
related-object methods, a model object might get any or all of the following
methods:
get_FOO_display()
-----------------
For every field that has ``choices`` set, the object will have a
``get_FOO_display()`` method, where ``FOO`` is the name of the field. This
method returns the "human-readable" value of the field. For example, in the
following model::
GENDER_CHOICES = (
('M', 'Male'),
('F', 'Female'),
)
class Person
name = meta.CharField(maxlength=20)
gender = meta.CharField(maxlength=1, choices=GENDER_CHOICES)
...each ``Person`` instance will have a ``get_gender_display()`` method. Example::
>>> p = Person(name='John', gender='M')
>>> p.save()
>>> p.gender
'M'
>>> p.get_gender_display()
'Male'
get_next_by_FOO(**kwargs) and get_previous_by_FOO(**kwargs)
-----------------------------------------------------------
For every ``DateField`` and ``DateTimeField`` that does not have ``null=True``,
the object will have ``get_next_by_FOO()`` and ``get_previous_by_FOO()``
methods, where ``FOO`` is the name of the field. This returns the next and
previous object with respect to the date field, raising the appropriate
``*DoesNotExist`` exception when appropriate.
Both methods accept optional keyword arguments, which should be in the format
described in "Field lookups" above.
get_FOO_filename()
------------------
For every ``FileField``, the object will have a ``get_FOO_filename()`` method,
where ``FOO`` is the name of the field. This returns the full filesystem path
to the file, according to your ``MEDIA_ROOT`` setting.
Note that ``ImageField`` is technically a subclass of ``FileField``, so every
model with an ``ImageField`` will also get this method.
get_FOO_url()
-------------
For every ``FileField``, the object will have a ``get_FOO_filename()`` method,
where ``FOO`` is the name of the field. This returns the full URL to the file,
according to your ``MEDIA_URL`` setting. If the value is blank, this method
returns an empty string.
get_FOO_size()
--------------
For every ``FileField``, the object will have a ``get_FOO_filename()`` method,
where ``FOO`` is the name of the field. This returns the size of the file, in
bytes. (Behind the scenes, it uses ``os.path.getsize``.)
save_FOO_file(filename, raw_contents)
-------------------------------------
For every ``FileField``, the object will have a ``get_FOO_filename()`` method,
where ``FOO`` is the name of the field. This saves the given file to the
filesystem, using the given filename. If a file with the given filename already
exists, Django adds an underscore to the end of the filename (but before the
extension) until the filename is available.
get_FOO_height() and get_FOO_width()
------------------------------------
For every ``ImageField``, the object will have ``get_FOO_height()`` and
``get_FOO_width()`` methods, where ``FOO`` is the name of the field. This
returns the height (or width) of the image, as an integer, in pixels.
Extra module functions
======================
In addition to every function described in "Basic lookup functions" above, a
model module might get any or all of the following methods:
get_FOO_list(kind, **kwargs)
----------------------------
For every ``DateField`` and ``DateTimeField``, the model module will have a
``get_FOO_list()`` function, where ``FOO`` is the name of the field. This
returns a list of ``datetime.datetime`` objects representing all available
dates of the given scope, as defined by the ``kind`` argument. ``kind`` should
be either ``"year"``, ``"month"`` or ``"day"``. Each ``datetime.datetime``
object in the result list is "truncated" to the given ``type``.
* ``"year"`` returns a list of all distinct year values for the field.
* ``"month"`` returns a list of all distinct year/month values for the field.
* ``"day"`` returns a list of all distinct year/month/day values for the field.
Here's an example, using the ``Poll`` model defined above::
>>> from datetime import datetime
>>> p1 = polls.Poll(slug='whatsup', question="What's up?",
... pub_date=datetime(2005, 2, 20), expire_date=datetime(2005, 3, 20))
>>> p1.save()
>>> p2 = polls.Poll(slug='name', question="What's your name?",
... pub_date=datetime(2005, 3, 20), expire_date=datetime(2005, 4, 20))
>>> p2.save()
>>> polls.get_pub_date_list('year')
[datetime.datetime(2005, 1, 1)]
>>> polls.get_pub_date_list('month')
[datetime.datetime(2005, 2, 1), datetime.datetime(2005, 3, 1)]
>>> polls.get_pub_date_list('day')
[datetime.datetime(2005, 2, 20), datetime.datetime(2005, 3, 20)]
``get_FOO_list()`` also accepts an optional keyword argument ``order``, which
should be either ``"ASC"`` or ``"DESC"``. This specifies how to order the
results. Default is ``"ASC"``.