To set up your model as Nested Set, you must add the following code to your model's table definition. class Menu extends Doctrine_Record { public function setTableDefinition() { $this->setTableName('menu'); // add this your table definition to set the table as NestedSet tree implementation $this->option('treeImpl', 'NestedSet'); $this->option('treeOptions', array()); // you do not need to add any columns specific to the nested set implementation, these are added for you $this->hasColumn("name","string",30); } // this __toString() function is used to get the name for the path, see node::getPath() public function __toString() { return $this->get('name'); } }