where {} queries fail when accessing properties of embedded components

[gsartori]

where {} queries fail when accessing a property of an embedded component, even though the property is referenced using the expected dotted notation.

Hibernate throws the following exception:

org.hibernate.QueryException: Criteria objects cannot be created directly on components.
Create a criteria on owning entity and use a dotted property to access component property: extRef1

The query already uses a dotted property (extRef1.value), so it appears that GORM is translating the where {} closure into a Hibernate Criteria incorrectly.

The same happens with:

extRef1.provider == "SAP"

so the issue does not appear to be related to the =~ operator, but to accessing any property of an embedded component.

Expected behavior

The query should be translated into a predicate on the embedded property (e.g. extRef1.value) and execute successfully.

Actual Behaviour

Hibernate throws:

org.hibernate.QueryException: Criteria objects cannot be created directly on components.
Create a criteria on owning entity and use a dotted property to access component property: extRef1

NOTE: Removing the extRef1.value predicate makes the query execute correctly.

Steps To Reproduce

Domain model

class WorkItem extends SystemManaged {
    String description
}

Classes in /main/src

abstract class SystemManaged implements GormEntity {
    ExternalRef extRef1

    static embedded = ['extRef1']
}

class ExternalRef {
    String provider
    String value
}

Query

def query = WorkItem.where {}

String search = "ABC"

query = query.where {
    extRef1.value =~ "%${search}%"
}

Environment Information

Grails: 7.1.0

Example Application

No response

Version

7.1.0

[gsartori]

See also: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18235180/gorm-where-query-on-an-embedded-object

[gsartori]

The thread has reported my exact same experience:

def q = A.where { prop3 == new B(prop4: 'bla') }
def list = q.list()

Embedded components are persisted inside the main domain class (owner) itself. It can be accessed directly using any dynamic finder as you do directly on a domain object.

The above can also be represented in dynamic finders as:

A.findAllByProp3(new B(prop4: 'bla'))

In the reply below is what I need instead:

[..] it parses it but I get zero results. Most probably because it's missing prop5 (which I don't know and can't filter on) [..]

[jdaugherty]

https://github.com/apache/grails-core/tree/fix/where-queries-embedded will fix this.

[jdaugherty]

@gsartori I initially scheduled this for 8.x, we can backport it after review. #15962

[gsartori]

From my side it would be fine to have it in Grails 8, thank you @jdaugherty