Django Rest Framework SerializerMethodField only on GET Request - django

Question

Running into a little snag here with my DRF backend.
I am populating fields with choices on certain models.
I have a foreign key requirement on one model. When I create the model I want to save it under the foreign id.
When I request the models, I want the model with whatever the choice field maps to.
I was able to do this with SerializerMethodField, however when I try to create a model, I get a 400 error because the block is not valid. If I remove the SerializerMethodField, I can save, but get the number stored in the db from the request.
Any help would be appreciated.
class BlockViewSet(ModelViewSet):
model = apps.get_model('backend', 'Block')
queryset = model.objects.all()
serializer_class = serializers.BlockSerializer
permissions = ('All',)
def create(self, request, format=None):
data = request.data
data['user'] = request.user.id
data['goal'] = WorkoutGoal.objects.get(goal=data['goal']).id
block = serializers.BlockSerializer(data=data, context={'request': request})
if block.is_valid():
new_block = block.save()
return Response({'block': {'name': new_block.name, 'id': new_block.id}}, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
else:
return Response(block.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
class WorkoutGoalSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
class Meta:
model = apps.get_model('backend', 'WorkoutGoal')
fields = ('goal',)
goal = serializers.SerializerMethodField(read_only=True, source='get_goal')
def get_goal(self, obj):
return dict(WorkoutGoal.GOALS).get(obj.goal)
class BlockSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
workout_count = serializers.IntegerField(required=False)
completed_workouts = serializers.IntegerField(required=False)
goal = WorkoutGoalSerializer()
class Meta:
model = apps.get_model('backend', 'Block')
read_only_fields = ('workout_count', 'completed_workouts')
fields = read_only_fields + ('id', 'name', 'user', 'created', 'goal')
The above code returns the correct choice, but I can't save under it. Remove the goal = WorkoutGoalSerializer() and it saves but doesn't return the mapped choice.

Answer 1

I think this will work like a charm,
class WorkoutGoalSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
if 'request' in self.context and self.context['request'].method == 'GET':
self.fields['goal'] = serializers.SerializerMethodField(read_only=True, source='get_goal')
class Meta:
model = apps.get_model('backend', 'WorkoutGoal')
fields = ('goal',)
goal = serializers.SerializerMethodField(read_only=True, source='get_goal') # remove this line
def get_goal(self, obj):
return dict(WorkoutGoal.GOALS).get(obj.goal)
How this Work?
It will re-initiate the goal field with SerializerMethodField, if the reuested method is GET.
Remember one thing, you should remove the line,
goal = serializers.SerializerMethodField(read_only=True, source='get_goal')

Answer 2

serializers.py
class BlockCreateSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
workout_count = serializers.IntegerField(required=False)
completed_workouts = serializers.IntegerField(required=False)
class Meta:
model = apps.get_model('backend', 'Block')
read_only_fields = ('workout_count', 'completed_workouts')
fields = read_only_fields + ('id', 'name', 'user', 'created', 'goal')
class BlockSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
workout_count = serializers.IntegerField(required=False)
completed_workouts = serializers.IntegerField(required=False)
goal = WorkoutGoalSerializer()
class Meta:
model = apps.get_model('backend', 'Block')
read_only_fields = ('workout_count', 'completed_workouts')
fields = read_only_fields + ('id', 'name', 'user', 'created', 'goal')
views.py
class BlockViewSet(ModelViewSet):
model = apps.get_model('backend', 'Block')
queryset = model.objects.all()
serializer_class = serializers.BlockSerializer
permissions = ('All',)
def get_serializer_class(self):
if self.action == 'create':
return serializers.BlockCreateSerializer
else:
return self.serializer_class
def create(self, request, format=None):
data = request.data
data['user'] = request.user.id
data['goal'] = WorkoutGoal.objects.get(goal=data['goal']).id
block = self.get_serializer(data=data)
if block.is_valid():
new_block = block.save()
return Response({'block': {'name': new_block.name, 'id': new_block.id}}, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
else:
return Response(block.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
override get_serializer_class to return different serializer_class for create and other action(list\retrieve\update\partial_update)