DataMapper ORM v1.8.2

[eluser]WanWizard[/eluser]
Get rules run when you read data from the database, I use them for example to convert an array stored in the database serialized back to it's original form.

Normal rules run when you save, which can be used to provide defaults for fields not entered. In the same example, I use a rule that serializes properties that are an array before saving the data.

You can define a custom method as a rule, and in that method, you can do whatever you want, you have full access to the model object.

If you want to pre-populate the object after creation, use the post_model_init() method.