CakePHP: allowing database update with button click - forms

Question

I have a product search page with the form below. The search result is displayed on the same page with search bar at the top.
echo $this->Form->create('Searches', array('action'=>'products', 'type' => 'get', 'name' => 'textbox1'));
echo $form->input($varName1, array('label' => false));
echo $form->end('Locate');
I also have a little box next to the search result that allows (it doesn't work yet) the user to flag using checkboxes a product and accordingly update its database (table products and using model Product) with a button click. Note that I have a Searches controller for this search page.
<form method="link" action="/myapp/product/test_update_db>
<label><input type="checkbox" name="flag1" <?php echo $preCheckBox1; ?>>Flag 1</input></label>
<label><input type="checkbox" name="flag2" <?php echo $preCheckBox2; ?>>Flag 2</input></label>
<input type="submit" value="Update">
</form>
I'm having difficulty with this approach figuring out how to perform this check-box-and-DB-update routine. I'm getting to the link I'd like to go (/myapp/product/test_update_db), but I don't know how to take variables flag1 and flag2, along with row ID of this result ($results['Product']['id'])) to the new page.
Could someone guide me on how to perform this neatly? Is this general approach correct? If not, what route should I be taking? I'd prefer not to use javascript at this time, if possible.
EDIT: I think I can make this work if I use the URL for passing data.. but I'd still like to know how this could be done "under the hood" or in MVC. I feel like I'm hacking at the CakePHP platform.
UPDATE: So, I ended up using the URL parameters for retrieving information pieces like flag1 and flag2. I'm still looking for an alternative method.

Answer 1

To see where your is-checkbox-checked data is located, do the following in your controller:
// Cake 2.0+
debug($this->request->data);
// previous versions
debug($this->data);
If you want to pass data to your search controller from the current page, you can always add the data to your form:
$this->input
(
'Product.id',
array
(
'type' => 'hidden',
'value' => $yourProductId
)
);

Answer 2

I ended up using information embedded in the URL for getting submission data. Something like below..
In Products controller, when the form with flag1 and flag2 are submitted:
public function test_update_db() {
// Get variables from URL, if any, and save accordingly
$result = $this->Product->updateProduct($this->params['url'], 'url');
if ($result) {
$this->Session->setFlash('Successfully updated!', 'default', array('class' => 'success'));
$this->redirect($this->referer());
}
else {
$this->Session->setFlash('Update was unsuccessful!', 'default', array('class' => 'error'));
$this->redirect($this->referer());
}
}
This works for doing what I needed to do. I feel like there's a more proper way to do this though.

Answer 3

if ($result) {
$this->Session->setFlash('Successfully updated!', 'default', array('class' => 'success'));
$this->redirect($this->referer());
}