Laravel Eloquent insert 3 rows at once with timestamp

Question

I'm making a site with Laravel 5.2

I would like to do is

• INSERT 3 rows at the same time
• The new 3 rows have to contain timestamp created_at updated_at.

With the Query Builder method insert, Yes, it does insert 3 rows at once by passing an array like:

GroupRelation::insert([
    [
        'application_id'    => $applications[0]->a_id,
        'group_id'          => $group->id,
    ],
    [
        'application_id'    => $applications[1]->a_id,
        'group_id'          => $group->id,
    ],
    [
        'application_id'    => $applications[2]->a_id,
        'group_id'          => $group->id,
    ],
]);

The code above works fine. But this cannot touch the timestamp. Which means the created_at updated_at will be null.

However, if I changed the method insert to create:

GroupRelation::create([
   ... 
]);

It received the error:

ErrorException in Model.php line 2983:
preg_match() expects parameter 2 to be string, array given

If I'm not wrong, it seems like create can just accept 1 row at the same time, right?

I know insert is not a part of Eloquent. Eloquent fires timestamps but Query Builder does not.

So my questions are:

1. insert method can accept 3 rows at one time, but how can I fire the timestamp manually?
2. By 1. I've tried to add 'created_at' => date('Y-m-d H:i:s'), at each items of the array. But the controller is unclear and horrible.
3. How can I pass an array of 3 items to create method in order to fire timestamps?
4. Is it a good idea to call create inside the loops?

PS. protected $guarded = [] was assigned to empty array so would not receive Mass Assignment Exception.

Thank you so much.

Solution 1

insert() is a part of Query Builder, so it doesn't use Eloquent features.

You can't pass 3 items to create() method, only one. And using create() inside loops is terrible idea.

You should add these fields manually when doing bulk insertion:

[
    'application_id'    => $applications[0]->a_id,
    'group_id'          => $group->id,
    'created_at'        => Carbon::now(),
    'updated_at'        => Carbon::now(),
],

Solution 2

You may use dateTime class :

[
    'application_id'    => $applications[0]->a_id,
    'group_id'          => $group->id,
    'created_at'        => new \dateTime,
    'updated_at'        => new \dateTime,
],

Comments

[Benyi]

Thanks! Yes, I've done that! But I have 3 rows. As you see, I have 3 items of the array. Each of them is almost same and a little difference of $applications index among them. If I manually add created_at updated_at to the array set, the code is triplicate. Any further ideas?

[Kyslik]

I am sure there is already question like that, why instead of searching for duplicate you choose to answer? I am just curious...

[Alexey Mezenin]

@Benyi you can create an array and then just iterate over it and add timestamps to each item. It's the best solution you've got.

[Alexey Mezenin]

@Kyslik usually people who post links to 'duplicates', post links to not really related questions. I hate that and prefer to answer questions with related code and explanation. If you found helpful similar question, please post the link.

[Benyi]

Thanks @AlexeyMezenin and @Kyslik! This is a good idea for me. Hope AlexeyMezenin's answer and suggestion are helpful to that people who are confusing with timestamp not fired, and create no bulk insertion. Thank you so much.

[Benyi]

@AlexeyMezenin By your suggestion provided yesterday, I've used array_walk() walking through each of the item, and create new sub-items (created_at, group_id...) of that item in the closure. Finally I got the finished array with no triplicate same code. That is what I want. :)

[Alexey Mezenin]

Glad it was helpful. )

[Benyi]

Thank you for answering. In this question, the way to get current time is not relevant. It's about timestamp not updating by insert() method. And it can't insert more than 1 row by create method which is able to update timestamp.