Can I hook up a model to an existing database? - sails.js

Question

I have mongodb sitting behind an existing API and want to migrate the API to use sailsjs.
The data structure isn't anything crazy - just standard stuff using default mongodb ObjectIds as primary keys.
Will I be able to use this existing db with sails by just wiring up sails models? Do I need to specify the _id field? And, if so, what datatype should I use?
E.g. Existing mongodb with user collection with the following schema:
_id
name
fname
lname
age
Can I just wire up using something like the following for it to work?:
// User.js
var User = {
attributes: {
name: {
fname: 'STRING',
lname: 'STRING'
},
age: 'INTEGER'
}
};
module.exports = Person;

Answer 1

First: you dont have to define _id (waterline do this for you)
Waterline wants to help you using the same Functions and Models for all types of databases. A "Sub-Field" is not supported in mysql for example. So this don't work.
You can do this:
// User.js
var User = {
attributes: {
name: 'json',
age: 'integer'
}
};
module.exports = User;
If you want to validate "name" you can add your own validation:
// User.js
var User = {
types: {
myname: function(json){
if(typeof json.fname == "string" && typeof json.lname == "string"){
return true;
}else{
return false;
}
}
},
attributes: {
name: {
type: "json",
myname: true
},
age: 'integer'
}
};
module.exports = User;