CakePHP - How to do reverse routing with slug?

Question

I am using CakePHP 1.3. I have a Product model. on the DB table among others there are id and slug fields.

If I have a product that is

Answer 1

I don't believe that it's possible to be done auto-magically. The helper is just an "helper" who builds the link from the given parameters.

So the easiest method is to add another parameter in your link like so:

echo $html->link(
    'Product 37', 
    array('controller'=>'products', 'action' => 'view', 37, $slug)
);

where the $slug is the data from the slug field.

Probably it could be done your idea, but you need to break the MVC pattern very badly :)

Edit:

Reading your question again I understood it well. See how should be done:

in your router.php add the following rule:

Router::connect(
    '/product/*',
    array('controller' => 'products', 'action' => 'view')
);

Please note that it's /product/* rather than /products/*

Your link should be done like this:

echo $html->link(
    'Product 37', 
    array('controller'=>'products', 'action' => 'view', 37, 'my-product-title')
);

and the link would look like:

http://yourdomain.com/product/37/my-product-title

For me doing your suggestion is bad practice. Also I don't think it's good from SEO point of view redirecting always the user.