Grails: can I make a validator apply to create only (not update/edit) - mysql

Question

I have a domain class that needs to have a date after the day it is created in one of its fields.
class myClass {
Date startDate
String iAmGonnaChangeThisInSeveralDays
static constraints = {
iAmGonnaChangeThisInSeveralDays(nullable:true)
startDate(validator:{
def now = new Date()
def roundedDay = DateUtils.round(now, Calendar.DATE)
def checkAgainst
if(roundedDay>now){
Calendar cal = Calendar.getInstance();
cal.setTime(roundedDay);
cal.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_YEAR, -1); // <--
checkAgainst = cal.getTime();
}
else checkAgainst = roundedDay
return (it >= checkAgainst)
})
}
}
So several days later when I change only the string and call save the save fails because the validator is rechecking the date and it is now in the past. Can I set the validator to fire only on create, or is there some way I can change it to detect if we are creating or editing/updating?
#Rob H
I am not entirely sure how to use your answer. I have the following code causing this error:
myInstance.iAmGonnaChangeThisInSeveralDays = "nachos"
myInstance.save()
if(myInstance.hasErrors()){
println "This keeps happening because of the stupid date problem"
}

Answer 1

You can check if the id is set as an indicator of whether it's a new non-persistent instance or an existing persistent instance:
startDate(validator:{ date, obj ->
if (obj.id) {
// don't check existing instances
return
}
def now = new Date()
...
}

Answer 2

One option might be to specify which properties you want to be validated. From the documentation:
The validate method accepts an
optional List argument which may
contain the names of the properties
that should be validated. When a List
is passed to the validate method, only
the properties defined in the List
will be validated.
Example:
// when saving for the first time:
myInstance.startDate = new Date()
if(myInstance.validate() && myInstance.save()) { ... }
// when updating later
myInstance.iAmGonnaChangeThisInSeveralDays = 'New Value'
myInstance.validate(['iAmGonnaChangeThisInSeveralDays'])
if(myInstance.hasErrors() || !myInstance.save(validate: false)) {
// handle errors
} else {
// handle success
}
This feels a bit hacky, since you're bypassing some built-in Grails goodness. You'll want to be cautious that you aren't bypassing any necessary validation on the domain that would normally happen if you were to just call save(). I'd be interested in seeing others' solutions if there are more elegant ones.
Note: I really don't recommend using save(validate: false) if you can avoid it. It's bound to cause some unforeseen negative consequence down the road unless you're very careful about how you use it. If you can find an alternative, by all means use it instead.