--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/src/Database/MyBlueprint.php	Wed Jun 18 22:28:47 2025 -0400
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Libraries;
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\ColumnDefinition;
+
+class MyBlueprint extends \Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint
+{
+    /**
+     * Generates the base columns for a regular table
+     */
+    public function baseColumns(): void
+    {
+        $this->id();
+        $this->reference('users', 'created_by')->nullable();
+        $this->reference('users', 'updated_by')->nullable();
+        $this->timestamps();
+        $this->softDeletes();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param  mixed  $abbreviation
+     */
+    public function baseTextColumns($abbreviation = false): void
+    {
+        $this->string('name', 255);
+        $this->text('description')->nullable();
+        if ($abbreviation) {
+            $this->string('abbreviation', 50)->nullable();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public function pivotColumns(string $table1, string $table2): void
+    {
+        $this->comment('PIVOT:'.json_encode(['table1' => $table1, 'table2' => $table2]));
+        $this->id();
+        $this->reference($table1);
+        $this->reference($table2);
+    }
+
+    public function settingsColumns(): void
+    {
+        $this->baseColumns();
+        $this->baseTextColumns();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param  mixed  $keep_column
+     */
+    public function dropReference(string $table, ?string $override_column_name = null, $keep_column = false): void
+    {
+        // set up relevant strings
+        $column_name = self::get_foreign_column_name($table, $override_column_name);
+        $fk_name = self::get_foreign_key_name($this->getTable(), $table, $column_name);
+
+        // drop the reference
+        $this->dropForeign($fk_name);
+
+        // drop the column if necessary
+        if (! $keep_column) {
+            $this->dropColumn($column_name);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public function reference(string $table, ?string $override_column_name = null): ColumnDefinition
+    {
+        // set up relevant strings
+        $column_name = self::get_foreign_column_name($table, $override_column_name);
+        $fk_name = self::get_foreign_key_name($this->getTable(), $table, $column_name);
+
+        // create the column
+        $column = $this->unsignedBigInteger($column_name);
+
+        // create the foreign key
+        $this->foreign($column_name, $fk_name)->references('id')->on($table);
+
+        return $column;
+    }
+
+    protected static function get_foreign_column_name(string $input, ?string $override = null): string
+    {
+        return ! is_null($override) ? $override : \Str::singular($input).'_id';
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * Generates a foreign key name
+     * 'FK_' + current table name + foreign column name
+     *
+     * */
+    protected static function get_foreign_key_name(string $current_table, string $table, string $column_name): string
+    {
+        $fk_name = 'FK_';
+
+        // add the current table name
+        $fk_name .= \Str::singular($current_table);
+
+        // add the foreign column name
+        $fk_name .= '_'.$column_name;
+
+        return $fk_name;
+    }
+}