reconstruction of the project

app/Models/ExamDraft.php

@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
+use App\Models\BaseModel;
 
-class ExamDraft extends Model
+class ExamDraft extends BaseModel
 {
     protected $table = 'exam_drafts';
+
+    // ✅ CI: useTimestamps = true (created_at/updated_at)
+    public $timestamps = true;
+
     protected $fillable = [
         'teacher_id',
         'class_section_id',
@@ -29,5 +33,58 @@ class ExamDraft extends Model
         'created_at',
         'updated_at',
     ];
-    public $timestamps = true;
+
+    protected $casts = [
+        'teacher_id'        => 'integer',
+        'class_section_id'  => 'integer',
+        'admin_id'          => 'integer',
+        'is_legacy'         => 'boolean',
+
+        'version'           => 'integer',
+        'previous_draft_id' => 'integer',
+
+        'reviewed_at'       => 'datetime',
+    ];
+
+    /**
+     * CI had updateOnlyChanged=false (force updates even if nothing changed).
+     * In Laravel, you can force a save by calling:
+     *   $model->touch();   // updates updated_at only
+     *   or
+     *   $model->save(['timestamps' => true]); // normal save
+     *
+     * If you want a helper:
+     */
+    public function forceSave(array $attributes = []): bool
+    {
+        if (!empty($attributes)) {
+            $this->fill($attributes);
+        }
+
+        // Force updated_at refresh even if no attributes changed
+        $this->updated_at = now();
+
+        return $this->save();
+    }
+
+    /* Optional relationships */
+    public function teacher()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(User::class, 'teacher_id');
+    }
+
+    public function admin()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(User::class, 'admin_id');
+    }
+
+    public function classSection()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(ClassSection::class, 'class_section_id');
+    }
+
+    public function previousDraft()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(self::class, 'previous_draft_id');
+    }
 }