refactor(record): improves behaviour in patch operations for nested properties.

Now listing an object containing property will include all sub properties.

Closes #217

Author: iobaixas

README.md

@@ -257,10 +257,26 @@ To patch an object, just modify the properties and call `$save` passing an array
 bike = Bike.$find(1);
 bike.brand = 'Trek';
 bike.model = 'Slash';
-bike.$save(['brand']);
+bike.dim = { width: 10.0, height: 10.0 };
+bike.$save(['brand', 'dim']); // will only send brand and dim (every sub property)
 ```
 
-<!-- it: $httpBackend.expectPATCH('/bikes/1').respond(200, '{}'); $httpBackend.flush(); -->
+<!-- it: $httpBackend.expectPATCH('/bikes/1', { brand: 'Trek', dim: { width: 10.0, height: 10.0 } }).respond(200, '{}'); $httpBackend.flush(); -->
+<!-- end -->
+
+<!-- section: $save patch nested -->
+
+To specify a single subproperty to be sent in patch, use dot notation:
+
+```javascript
+bike = Bike.$find(1);
+bike.brand = 'Trek';
+bike.model = 'Slash';
+bike.dim = { width: 10.0, height: 10.0 };
+bike.$save(['dim.height']); // will only send dim.height
+```
+
+<!-- it: $httpBackend.expectPATCH('/bikes/1', { dim: { height: 10.0 } }).respond(200, '{}'); $httpBackend.flush(); -->
 <!-- end -->
 
 <!-- section: $create on type -->

src/module/api/record-api.js

@@ -292,7 +292,16 @@ RMModule.factory('RMRecordApi', ['RMUtils', function(Utils) {
               method: this.$type.getProperty('patchMethod', 'PATCH'), // allow user to override patch method
               url: url,
               // Use special mask for patches, mask everything that is not in the patch list.
-              data: this.$wrap(function(_name) { return _patch.indexOf(_name) === -1; })
+              data: this.$wrap(function(_name) {
+                for(var i = 0, l = _patch.length; i < l; i++) {
+                  if(_name === _patch[i] ||
+                    _name.indexOf(_patch[i] + '.') === 0 ||
+                    _patch[i].indexOf(_name + '.') === 0
+                  ) { return false; }
+                }
+
+                return true;
+              })
             };
           } else {
             request = { method: 'PUT', url: url, data: this.$wrap(Utils.UPDATE_MASK) };

test/model-spec.js

@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ describe('Restmod model class:', function() {
       var bike;
 
       beforeEach(function() {
-        bike = Bike.$new(1).$extend({ brand: 'Santa Cruz', model: 'Bronson', wheelSz: 27.5 });
+        bike = Bike.$new(1).$extend({ brand: 'Santa Cruz', model: 'Bronson', wheelSz: 27.5, dim: { height: 10, width: 10 } });
       });
 
       it('should begin a PATCH action', function() {
@@ -185,6 +185,18 @@ describe('Restmod model class:', function() {
         $httpBackend.flush();
       });
 
+      it('should include explicitly specified subproperties', function() {
+        bike.$save(['brand', 'dim.width']);
+        $httpBackend.expectPATCH('/api/bikes/1', { brand: 'Santa Cruz', dim: { width: 10 } }).respond(200, {});
+        $httpBackend.flush();
+      });
+
+      it('should include every sub property in a property if parent name is given', function() {
+        bike.$save(['brand', 'dim']);
+        $httpBackend.expectPATCH('/api/bikes/1', { brand: 'Santa Cruz', dim: { height: 10, width: 10 } }).respond(200, {});
+        $httpBackend.flush();
+      });
+
     });
 
     it('should call callbacks in proper order when creating', function() {