Planet CakePHP

You will need to add recursive=>(value) to the $params when you need to get a ‘list’ of table items using related model conditions.
Referring to the example depicted here, http://book.cakephp.org/view/1022/find-list let’s say you perform the following query:
$allPublishedAuthors = $this->Article->find('list', array(
'fields' => array('User.id', 'User.name'),
'conditions' => array('Article.status !=' => 'pending', 'User.status'=>'active'),
'recursive' => 0
));
The query above gives you results just fine. But, there may be an issue when you merely switch to find(‘list’) operation from find(‘all’) operation having $this->Article->recursive=(value 0, 1 etc.) set prior to operation call. Following operation is valid while followed by $this->Article->recursive=(value 0, 1 etc.).
$allPublishedAuthors = $this->Article->find('all', array(
'fields' => array('User.id', 'User.name'),
'conditions' => array('Article.status !=' => 'pending', 'User.status'=>'active'),
));
However the following operation is invalid while followed by $this->Article->recursive=(value 0, 1 etc.) and it gives you the Warning (512): SQL Error: 1054: Unknown column 'User.active' in 'where clause' error.
$allPublishedAuthors = $this->Article->find('list', array(
'fields' => array('User.id', 'User.name'),
'conditions' => array('Article.status !=' => 'pending', 'User.status'=>'active'),
));
To avoid this error you must always add 'recursive' => (value 0, 1 etc.) to the $params of your ‘list’ operation as shown in the very first example above.
I hope this helps someone.

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