Laravel-excel: [QUESTION] How to validate the rows without saving them

[J5Dev]

PHP Version: 7.2
Laravel Version: 5.7
Package version: 3.1.9

I am looking for guidance on how to best approach validating the data in each row, without saving anything to the database.

To give background, I have a bulk import facility, and I want this to be dealt with in 2 stages.

1. Run a job to validate the data, if any data fails, report this to the user and give them a chance to correct it.

If any rows fail validation, I would like to capture them as a whole so I can report them back to the user, identifying the row/reason etc

1. If all data is valid, run a job to import the data.

Is this possible... it feels like it should be, but all examples revolve around actually importing the records as part of the flow with validation.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

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[GlennM]

The entire import is automatically wrapped in a database transaction, that means that every error will rollback the entire import. When using batch inserts, only the current batch will be rollbacked.

https://docs.laravel-excel.com/3.1/imports/validation.html#database-transactions

[J5Dev]

Thanks Glenn, but I am already aware of that, however I am trying to not have a save function at all, as described above.

I want to validate each row, and if successful, I then fire an event. I will be handling the import/save of the data in a completely separate step.

[patrickbrouwers]

Hey @J5Dev in that case you could use the ToCollection or ToArray method and call the Laravel validator manually. Something along these lines:

class UsersImport implements ToCollection
{
    public function collection(Collection $rows)
    {
         Validator::make($rows->toArray(), [
             '*.0' => 'required',
         ])->validate();

         // If validation fails, it won't reach the next statement.

        foreach ($rows as $row) {
            User::create([
                'name' => $row[0],
            ]);
        }
    }
}

[J5Dev]

Ahaa, thank you.

Essentially pass or fail, I don't want the data inserting, so as long as I know I can replace the foreach in the example with firing the event I need to fire then I guess were all good.

Thank you for the pointer :)

[patrickbrouwers]

Yes that should work.

[J5Dev]

Does exactly the rick, thank you.

One final question if I may, it seems that the documented ability to skip failed validation rows or grab the details of them out don't apply (Getting normal Laravel validation errors... Have I missed something, or is it not possible this way?

Edit: Should have added my example...

Here is what I have as the setup...

class ValidateConsumers implements ToCollection, WithHeadingRow, WithValidation
{
    use SkipsFailures, Importable;

    public function collection(Collection $rows)
    {
        // code here
    }

}

[patrickbrouwers]

The trait only works in combination with the concern/interface (SkipsOnFailure). However SkipsOnFailure & WithValidation only currently works when using ToModel.

[J5Dev]

Ahh, ok, no worries, thank you.

Will look to handle it another way. Still got me to where I need to be, so thanks for the help.

[patrickbrouwers]

You're welcome!

[GlennM]

Closing due to resolved/inactivity. Please feel free to reopen if you need additional support.