How to 'require' a database schema in nodejs - node.js

Question

What is the best way to require a mongoose Schema in nodejs?
Originally I had these inside the app.js file but that is getting a bit large and unwieldy with more models.
Now I want to move them into a models folder and use Model = require('./models/model') to import them into app.js
How do I get it such that Model is populated with the actual model?
(exports = mongoose.model(...) fails and gives me a blank object; exports.model = mongoose.model(...) requires me to do Model.model to access it -- neither of these are the desired behavior)
===
Edit1
So basically I have taken
var mongoose = require('mongoose');
var Schema = mongoose.Schema, ObjectId = Schema.ObjectId;
var UserSchema = new Schema({
username: String,
password: String,
first_name: String,
last_name: String,
email: String
});
User = mongoose.model('User', UserSchema);
and put it into ./models/user.js
How do I get it such that its the equivalent of having this in the app.js?

Answer 1

In your app.js server file, include the model.js file like this:
var Model = require('./models/model'); //whatever you want to call it
You can then instantiate it in your server file like this:
//Initiate the Business API endpoints
var model = new Model(mq, siteConf);
model.getUser(id, function() {
// handle result
});
----
Then in your file you place in models folder named model.js (or whatever you want) you can set it up like this:
var mongoose = require('mongoose');
//MongoDB schemas
var Schema = mongoose.Schema;
var User = new Schema({
username: String,
password: String,
first_name: String,
last_name: String,
email: String
});
var UserModel = mongoose.model('User', User);
// your other objects defined ...
module.exports = function(mq, siteConf) {
//MongoDB
mongoose.connect(siteConf.mongoDbUrl);
// ------------------------
// READ API
// ------------------------
// Returns a user by ID
function getUser(id, found) {
console.log("find user by id: " + id);
UserModel.findById(id, found);
}
// Returns one user matching the given criteria
// mainly used to match against email/login during login
function getUserByCriteria(criteria, found) {
console.log("find user by criteria: " + JSON.stringify(criteria));
UserModel.findOne(criteria, found);
}
// more functions for your app ...
return {
'getUser': getUser,
'getUserByCriteria': getUserByCriteria
};
};