How to save a value instead of primary key in foreign key based dropdown in database

Using Django Forms & APIs
1

When using a foreign key to provide a dropdown to user in model form how can we save the dropdown value in the database rather than the primary key

2

If the field being saved is a foreign key, you don’t want to save a value, you need to save the key.

If the field isn’t a foreign key, we’ll need to see the view, form, and model being saved to properly advise you.

3

Hi KEn,
Thanks for the reply. i am looking for a value as i found that when i want to view the data back using querysets it displays id’s instead of the actual value. also i tried alternative my declaring my model field as char and used a queryset and modelchoicefield to make it a dropdown. but in my project i am trying to make a system where the user can clone a existing database row back into the form using(form instance and edit and resubmit) when i used char and model choice field the dropdowns dont get populated

4

That’s an issue then of how you’re displaying the value, not an issue of needing to save the value in your model.

5

Hi Ken,

So if i want to display the value instead of the ID when i filter data using queryset what should be done!! Relativley new to django sorry if its a silly question

6

See the docs and examples at Many-to-one relationships | Django documentation | Django,

Also see The Django template language | Django documentation | Django

If you need more specific or targeted assistance, please post the model(s) and one of the templates involved - it’ll make providing a description a lot easier.

7

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the help i got the solution. your earlier answer made me think differently . earlier i was figuring out how to save value now i started hunting how to display foreign key value in template and got solution

this post helped me

i ended up using (program__program) in my queryset to display data of foreign key

8

That question and the related answers are dangerously old and no longer “best practice” or even “common practice”.

Please, do yourself a favor and do not rely upon SO for code samples. (Or for any Django-related information, for that matter.) You’re going to pick up a lot of bad habits along the way.

9

thanks for the tip Ken will keep it in mind going forward