Accessing controller properties within Ember Data REST Adapter - ember.js

Question

I need to access a controller property to build custom URLs in my RESTAdapter instances, but I can't find a way to access the controller within the context of an adapter. Here's what I have:
I have a simple model that looks like this:
App.Customer = DS.Model.extend(
{
first_name: DS.attr('string'),
last_name: DS.attr('string'),
date_of_birth: DS.attr('string'),
created_at: DS.attr('string'),
updated_at: DS.attr('string')
});
The resource REST URL for this model looks something like this:
https://api.server.com/v1/accounts/:account_id/customers/:customer_id
I'm extending the RESTAdapter in Ember Data for most of my models so I can customize resource URLs individually. Like this:
App.CustomerAdapter = DS.RESTAdapter.extend(
{
buildURL: function(type, id)
{
// I need access to an account_id here:
return "new_url";
}
});
As you can see, in this example I need an account ID in the URL to be able to query a customer object. The account ID is something that the user would have had to supply by logging-in and is stored in an AccountController which is an instance of Ember.Controller.
My question is, how can I access a property from my AccountController within my CustomerAdapter? Here are the things I've tried, none have worked:
App.CustomerAdapter = DS.RESTAdapter.extend(
{
buildURL: function(type, id)
{
var account_id = this.controllerFor('account').get('activeAccount').get('id');
return "new_url";
}
});
,
App.CustomerAdapter = DS.RESTAdapter.extend(
{
needs: ['account'],
accountController: Ember.computed.alias("controllers.account"),
buildURL: function(type, id)
{
var account_id = this.get('accountController').get('activeAccount').get('id');
return "new_url";
}
});
,
App.CustomerAdapter = DS.RESTAdapter.extend(
{
activeAccountBinding = Ember.Binding.oneWay('App.AccountController.activeAccount');
buildURL: function(type, id)
{
var account_id = this.get('activeAccount').get('id');
return "new_url";
}
});
At this point, the only hack I can think of, is to put the account ID in a global variable outside of Ember and access it from there within the Adapter.
Other suggestions?

Answer 1

We have a similar problem, and essentially we do a global variable, and feel guilty about it. Ours is in Ember Model, but the same concept and problem exists. Another solution is to use findQuery, but this returns a collection, so then you have to pull the item out of the collection.
App.CustomerAdapter = DS.RESTAdapter.extend(
{
buildURL: function(type, id)
{
var params = type.params;
return "new_url" + params.account_id;
}
});
In Some Route:
App.BlahRoute = Em.Route.extend({
model: function(params){
App.Customer.params = {account_id:123};
this.get('store').find('customer', 3);
}
});

Answer 2

I know that you can access controller's properties in context of another controller.
I see that you tried somewhat similar, but anyway maybe this would work for adapter:
App.YourController = Ember.ObjectController.extend({
needs: ['theOtherController'],
someFunction: function () {
var con = this.get('controllers.theOtherController');
return con.get('propertyYouNeed');
},
});
Also, have you thought about adding AccountId property to your Customer model?
Maybe automatic URL can be achieved with proper routing?