Undefined Index in Laravel Migrate - laravel

Question

I'm new to Laravel. I'm following this tutorial from LinkedIn Learning but I couldn't figure out how to make this work.
Basically, I need to insert new data in the menu_item model. In the tutorial, it uses Category model and they said that I have to create these four categories in the database.
It's very vague and I'm not sure what he means by "in the database", so I assume I should create Starters, Entree, Dessert and Salad columns in the Category model.
When I tried artisan migrate, it said it was successful but when I checked the mysql, I have no such columns! So I created them in mysql and they're there however when I tried to run composer dump-autoload and artisan db:seed --class=MenuItemsTableSeeder it didn't work. All I got was this error: ErrorException : Undefined index: Starters
I'm at loss on what to do.
Here is my menu-items from migration:
<?php
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
class CreateMenuItemsTable extends Migration
{
/**
* Run the migrations.
*
* #return void
*/
public function up()
{
Schema::create('menu_items', function (Blueprint $table) {
$table->increments('id');
$table->timestamps();
$table->string('name', 128);
$table->string('description', 512);
$table->decimal('price');
$table->string('image');
$table->unsignedInteger('category_id');
$table->foreign('category_id')
->references('id')
->on('categories')
->onDelete('cascade');
});
}
/**
* Reverse the migrations.
*
* #return void
*/
public function down()
{
Schema::dropIfExists('menu_items');
}
}
Here's my category model from migration:
<?php
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
class CreateCategoriesTable extends Migration
{
/**
* Run the migrations.
*
* #return void
*/
public function up()
{
Schema::create('categories', function (Blueprint $table) {
$table->increments('id');
$table->string('Starters');
$table->string('Salads');
$table->string('Entrees');
$table->string('Desserts');
$table->string('name');
$table->string('image');
$table->unsignedTinyInteger('display_order');
$table->timestamps();
});
}
/**
* Reverse the migrations.
*
* #return void
*/
public function down()
{
Schema::dropIfExists('categories');
}
}
And here's what I want to insert in the menu-item model where the errors occur starting from $startersId = $catIds['Starters'];:
<?php
use Carbon\Carbon;
use Illuminate\Database\Seeder;
class MenuItemsTableSeeder extends Seeder
{
/**
* Run the database seeds.
*
* #return void
*/
public function run()
{
$categories = DB::select('select * from categories');
$catIds = [];
foreach ($categories as $cat) {
$catIds[$cat->name] = $cat->id;
}
$startersId = $catIds['Starters'];
$saladsId = $catIds['Salads'];
$entreesId = $catIds['Entrees'];
$dessertsId = $catIds['Desserts'];
DB::table('menu_items')->insert([
// Starters
[
'name' => 'Mini Cheeseburgers',
'category_id' => $startersId,
'image' => 'mini_cheeseburgers.jpg',
'description' => 'These mini cheeseburgers are served on a fresh baked pretzel bun with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and your choice of cheese.',
'price' => 8,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'French Onion Soup',
'category_id' => $startersId,
'image' => 'french_onion_soup.jpg',
'description' => 'Caramelized onions slow cooked in a savory broth, topped with sourdough and a provolone cheese blend. Served with sourdough bread.',
'price' => 7,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Artichokes with Garlic Aioli',
'category_id' => $startersId,
'image' => 'artichokes_with_garlic_aioli.jpg',
'description' => 'Our artichokes are brushed with an olive oil and rosemary blend and then broiled to perfection. Served with a side of creamy garlic aioli.',
'price' => 9,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Parmesan Deviled Eggs',
'category_id' => $startersId,
'image' => 'parmesan_deviled_eggs.jpg',
'description' => 'These delectable little bites are made with organic eggs, fresh Parmesan, and chopped pine nuts.',
'price' => 8,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
// Salads
[
'name' => 'Garden Buffet',
'category_id' => $saladsId,
'image' => 'parmesan_deviled_eggs.jpg',
'description' => 'Choose from our fresh local, organically grown ingredients to make a custom salad.',
'price' => 10,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'House Salad',
'category_id' => $saladsId,
'image' => 'house_salad.jpg',
'description' => 'Our house salad is made with romaine lettuce and spinach, topped with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and carrots. Served with a dressing of your choice.',
'price' => 7,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => "Chef's Salad",
'category_id' => $saladsId,
'image' => 'chefs_salad.jpg',
'description' => 'The chef’s salad has cucumber, tomatoes, red onions, mushrooms, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and hot grilled chicken on a bed of romaine lettuce. Served with croutons and your choice of dressing.',
'price' => 9,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Quinoa Salmon Salad',
'category_id' => $saladsId,
'image' => 'quinoa_salmon_salad.jpg',
'description' => 'Our quinoa salad is served with quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber, scallions, and smoked salmon. Served with your choice of dressing.',
'price' => 12,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
// Entrees
[
'name' => 'Classic Burger',
'category_id' => $entreesId,
'image' => 'classic_burger.jpg',
'description' => 'Our classic burger is made with 100% pure angus beef, served with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and cheese of your choice. Veggie burger available upon request. Served with French fries, fresh fruit, or a side salad.',
'price' => 10,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Tomato Bruschetta Tortellini',
'category_id' => $entreesId,
'image' => 'tomato_bruschetta_tortellini.jpg',
'description' => 'This classic cheese tortellini is cooked in a sundried tomato sauce. Served with bruschetta topped with a tomato and basil marinara.',
'price' => 14,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Handcrafted Pizza',
'category_id' => $entreesId,
'image' => 'handcrafted_pizza.jpg',
'description' => 'Our thin crust pizzas are made fresh daily and topped with your choices of fresh meats, veggies, cheese, and sauce. Price includes two toppings. Add $1 for each additional topping.',
'price' => 10,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Barbecued Tofu Skewers',
'category_id' => $entreesId,
'image' => 'barbecued_tofu_skewers.jpg',
'description' => 'Our barbecued skewers include tofu, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini marinated in a ginger sesame sauce and charbroiled. Served with steamed rice.',
'price' => 10,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Fiesta Family Platter',
'category_id' => $entreesId,
'image' => 'fiesta_family_platter.jpg',
'description' => 'This platter is perfect for sharing! Enjoy our spicy buffalo wings, traditional nachos, and cheese quesadillas served with freshly made guacamole dip.',
'price' => 16,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
// Desserts
[
'name' => 'Crème Brûlée',
'category_id' => $dessertsId,
'image' => 'creme_brulee.jpg',
'description' => 'Elegantly crafted creamy vanilla custard with a caramelized crunchy layer on top. Served with seasonal fruit.',
'price' => 9,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Cheesecake',
'category_id' => $dessertsId,
'image' => 'cheesecake.jpg',
'description' => 'Our New York Style Cheesecake is rich, smooth, and creamy. Available in various flavors, and with seasonal fruit toppings.',
'price' => 9,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Chocolate Chip Brownie',
'category_id' => $dessertsId,
'image' => 'chocolate_chip_brownie.jpg',
'description' => 'A warm chocolate chip brownie served with chocolate or vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate sauce.',
'price' => 6,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Apple Pie',
'category_id' => $dessertsId,
'image' => 'apple_pie.jpg',
'description' => 'Made with local granny smith apples to bring you the freshest classic apple pie available.',
'price' => 5,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Mixed Berry Tart',
'category_id' => $dessertsId,
'image' => 'mixed_berry_tart.jpg',
'description' => 'Raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries on top of a creamy filling served in a crispy tart.',
'price' => 7,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
]);
}
}

Answer 1

You have added the categories 'Starters','Salads','Entrees','Desserts' in your categories table as columns.
Create a seeder for Categories Table and add these values in name columns.
Update the migration for categories :
Schema::create('categories', function (Blueprint $table) {
$table->increments('id');
$table->string('name');
$table->string('image')->nullable(); // if you do not have images path in seeder
$table->unsignedTinyInteger('display_order');
$table->timestamps();
});
Add the categories table seeder
<?php
use Carbon\Carbon;
use Illuminate\Database\Seeder;
class CategoriesTableSeeder extends Seeder
{
/**
* Run the database seeds.
*
* #return void
*/
public function run()
{
DB::table('categories')->insert([
[
'name' => 'Starters',
'image' => 'image_path',
'display_order' => 1,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Salads',
'image' => 'image_path',
'display_order' => 2,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Entrees',
'image' => 'image_path',
'display_order' => 3,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
[
'name' => 'Desserts',
'image' => 'image_path',
'display_order' => 4,
'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
],
]);
}
}