[bug]: Populate multiple levels not working as expected

[douwepausma]

Bug Description

At first I thought I need to use an array to populate much like the other Strapi API's, but when I hover the populate attribute (see the picture at expected behavior) I noticed I need to use an object. However it only works when ik go no further than 1 level.

This works

const results = await strapi.collection('pages').find({
        populate: {
            seo: true
        }
});

But this doesn't

const results = await strapi.collection('pages').find({
        populate: {
            seo: {
                metaImage: true
            }
        }
});

Steps to Reproduce

Try and fetch entries with a populate level deeper than 1.

const results = await strapi.collection('pages').find({
        populate: {
            seo: {
                metaImage: true
            }
        }
});

Expected Behavior

To populate multiple levels.

Version

1.0.0-beta.0

Operating System

MacOS

Runtime Environment

Node.js

Logs

⨯ HTTPBadRequestError: Request failed with status code 400 Bad Request: GET http://127.0.0.1:1337/api/pages?filters%5Bpathname%5D=%2Ftrainingen%2Fabout-me&populate%5Bseo%5D%5BmetaImage%5D=true
    at async getPageByPathname (./src/actions/strapi/page.ts:15:21)
    at async Page (./src/app/[...slug]/page.tsx:34:5)
digest: "2498158417"

TRYING THE REQUEST IN POSTMAN:
{
    "data": null,
    "error": {
        "status": 400,
        "name": "ValidationError",
        "message": "Invalid key metaImage at seo.metaImage",
        "details": {
            "key": "metaImage",
            "path": "seo.metaImage",
            "source": "query",
            "param": "populate"
        }
    }
}

Media

populate description

Confirmation Checklist

• I have checked the existing issues
• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct
• I would like to work on this issue

[douwepausma]

I've created a pull request to resolve this issue. Apparently string arrays are support, but Typescript was saying otherwise. So I added the proper type.

#28

[Convly]

Thanks for opening this issue, I'll have a look to your issue and PR to check what's happening

[Convly]

Hey, I tried reproducing your issue, but ended up spotting what I think is a typo in your query.

Could you try again with

const results = await strapi.collection('pages').find({
        populate: {
            seo: {
                populate: {
                    metaImage: true
                }
            }
        }
});

[douwepausma]

You are right! That does work, thanks! I'll be sticking to the string[] for now though, as I think it is a bit cleaner. I would favour the object notation if I didn't have to re-emphasize populate every level.

[Convly]

Noted, thanks for your feedback and good luck in your project! 🙂