laravel validate multiple models - validation

Question

I would like a best practice for this kind of problem
I have items, categories and category_item table for a many to many relationship
I have 2 models with these validations rules
class Category extends Basemodel {
public static $rules = array(
'name' => 'required|min:2|max:255'
);
....
class Item extends BaseModel {
public static $rules = array(
'title' => 'required|min:5|max:255',
'content' => 'required'
);
....
class Basemodel extends Eloquent{
public static function validate($data){
return Validator::make($data, static::$rules);
}
}
I don't know how to validate these 2 sets of rules from only one form with category, title and content fields.
For the moment I just have a validation for the item but I don't know what's the best to do:
create a new set of rules in my controller -> but it seems redundant
sequentially validate Item then category -> but I don't know how to handle validations errors, do I have to merges them? and how?
a 3rd solution I'm unaware of
here is my ItemsController#store method
/**
* Store a newly created item in storage.
*
* #return Redirect
*/
public function store()
{
$validation= Item::validate(Input::all());
if($validation->passes()){
$new_recipe = new Item();
$new_recipe->title = Input::get('title');
$new_recipe->content = Input::get('content');
$new_recipe->creator_id = Auth::user()->id;
$new_recipe->save();
return Redirect::route('home')
->with('message','your item has been added');
}
else{
return Redirect::route('items.create')->withErrors($validation)->withInput();
}
}
I am very interested on some clue about this subject
thanks

Answer 1

One way, as you pointed yourself, is to validate it sequentially:
/**
* Store a newly created item in storage.
*
* #return Redirect
*/
public function store()
{
$itemValidation = Item::validate(Input::all());
$categoryValidation = Category::validate(Input::all());
if($itemValidation->passes() and $categoryValidation->passes()){
$new_recipe = new Item();
$new_recipe->title = Input::get('title');
$new_recipe->content = Input::get('content');
$new_recipe->creator_id = Auth::user()->id;
$new_recipe->save();
return Redirect::route('home')
->with('message','your item has been added');
}
else{
return Redirect::route('items.create')
->with('errors', array_merge_recursive(
$itemValidation->messages()->toArray(),
$categoryValidation->messages()->toArray()
)
)
->withInput();
}
}
The other way would be to create something like an Item Repository (domain) to orchestrate your items and categories (models) and use a Validation Service (that you'll need to create too) to validate your forms.
Chris Fidao book, Implementing Laravel, explains that wonderfully.

Answer 2

You can also use this:
$validationMessages =
array_merge_recursive(
$itemValidation->messages()->toArray(),
$categoryValidation->messages()->toArray());
return Redirect::back()->withErrors($validationMessages)->withInput();
and call it in the same way.

Answer 3

$validateUser = Validator::make(Input::all(), User::$rules);
$validateRole = Validator::make(Input::all(), Role::$rules);
if ($validateUser->fails() OR $validateRole->fails()) :
$validationMessages = array_merge_recursive($validateUser->messages()->toArray(), $validateRole->messages()->toArray());
return Redirect::back()->withErrors($validationMessages)->withInput();
endif;