Grails - MySQL query result with a zero index causing GORM runtime exception

Question

I'm using an existing DB from an open source application (OSTicket). There are two tables (OstStaff and OstTicket, where staff hasMany Tickets). However, the big problem is OSTicket assigns a default value of zero to OstTicket.staff_id, when the ticket is not yet assigned to an OstStaff.

The issue arises when you search for tickets and GORM thinks that there is a staff with index equal to 0. I can't even check for null, just keep getting this error:

No row with the given identifier exists: [com.facilities.model.OstFacStaff#0]. 
Stacktrace follows:
Message: No row with the given identifier exists: [com.facilities.model.OstFacStaff#0]

Any suggestion how I can get around this issue? Thanks.

Answer 1

Solved this by just getting the ids, rather than the record, and then removing the zero index.

def ticketCriteria = OstFacTicket.createCriteria()
def staffIdsWithTickets = ticketCriteria.list {
    projections {
        distinct("staff.id")  // **INSTEAD of returning staff, get the id**
    }
    between("created", start, end)
}

def zeroIndex = staffIdsWithTickets.indexOf(0)
if (zeroIndex >= 0) {
    staffIdsWithTickets.remove(zeroIndex)
}