I think you have most elements i place... I think the thing that is getting
confusing is how cake is suppose to load the classes.
So here's the kicker. Cake only "loads" models if they are related to
something that you are using. I will use an example from my world to
illustrate.
I have a Prototype Model, that is used in the PrototypesController. This
model belongs to a Creator (from the users table), and belongs to a
Designer (also from the users table). I have a User Model, that only
handles the logic for logging in and out and user Identity stuff. So the
User model doesn't have any relationship to the Prototype Model.
I created a Designer Model, that extends the User Model. I can use this
Designer Model just like the User model, because it inherits all the
methods, but it can contain it's own relationships to Prototype. It doesn't
always inherit the properties though, and I will tell you why I like
that... because you can then do what you want as far as tables go, and
datasources. So, just because you extend the User model, it doesn't mean
that you have to use the users table... If how ever you need to get
properties, you can access them via $this, if they are not static, and
parent::someProperty if it is static.
So, as I said in my Prototype Model I have a belongsTo Designer, so I use
my Designer Model, and NOT the User Model, in that definition. Now in my
PrototypesController I can access the Design model like any other related
model using the chain.
$this->Prototype->Designer->someMethodInEitherDesignerOrUserModel()
If you are needing to initiate a model on the fly, that's not related, you
can use ClassRegistry::init('Designer') OR if in a controller I think you
can use $this->loadModel('Designer') (Which is just a helper to the first
one) and use it the same way.
Anyways, hope that helps. Let me know if I can clarify, or didn't explain
anything clearly.
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