CakePHP 2.x ACL Issues getting it working - php

Question

I have been trying to get the CakePHP ACL's working with my new application, it is causing me a world of pain. For some reason the ACL doesnt seem to be working however the tutorials are rubbish and don't explain each component very well. e.g. how a ACO links to a controller / function / views
I have got the ACL working correctly up until getting the pages to know if the user is allowed to view it, also same issue with menu items that they can / cant see.
I have noticed that if i add this code to my page the array shows the group as blank:
$user = $this->Auth->user();
pr($user);
The array returned:
Array
(
[id] => 80
[first_name] => Bob
[last_name] => Test
[email] => email#emial.com
[username] => TestAdmin
[tokenhash] => cleared
[is_active] => 1
[created] => 2014-10-03 16:32:45
[modified] => 2014-10-03 16:32:45
[token_expires_at] =>
[group_id] => 3
[Group] => Array
(
[id] =>
[name] =>
[enabled] =>
[created] =>
[modified] =>
)
)
The site is basically a portal, visitors should only have access to login / register. and the users groups all have access to the dashboard however it ends up in a continuous loop unless i allow everyone access to the dashboard (due to the group not being recognised i guess)
any help would be appreciated, I realise that you may need me to post the code im using so please let me know what you would require.
Thanks in advance
EDIT:
I have updated my AppController as below and it has started showing the group in the array as it should!!! weird thanks for the push in the right direction.
AppController.php
<?php
App::uses('Controller', 'Controller');
class AppController extends Controller {
public function beforeRender() {
if((($this->params['controller']==='Users') || ($this->params['controller']==='users'))&&(($this->params['action']=='login') || ($this->params['action']=='register') || ($this->params['action']=='success') || ($this->params['action']=='forgot_password') || ($this->params['action']=='reset_password')) ){
$this->theme = 'DataHouseLogin';
}else{
$this->theme = 'DataHouse';
}
parent::beforeRender();
}
public $components = array(
'Acl',
'RequestHandler',
'DebugKit.Toolbar' => array('panels' => array('history' => false)),
'Session',
'Auth' => array(
'authorize' => array(
'Actions' => array(
'actionPath' => 'controllers'
)
),
'loginAction' => array(
'controller' => 'Users',
'action' => 'login'
),
'loginRedirect' => array(
'controller' => 'Dashboard',
'action' => 'index'
),
'logoutRedirect' => array(
'controller' => 'Users',
'action' => 'login'
),
'authError' => 'Did you really think you are allowed to see that?',
'authenticate' => array(
'Form' => array(
'passwordHasher' => 'Blowfish'
)
)
)
);
public function beforeFilter() {
//$this->Auth->allowedActions = array('display','index','register');
$this->set('user', $this->Auth->user());
$this->set('acl', $this->Acl);
$this->Auth->authorize = array(
'Controller',
'Actions' => array('actionPath' => 'controllers')
);
parent::beforeFilter();
}
public function isAuthorized($user) {
// Default deny
return false;
}
}

Answer 1

I think you should try to configure Auth component correctly. Try to put this code in your AppController:
class AppController extends Controller {
public $components = array('RequestHandler', 'Session',
'Acl',
'Auth' => array(
'authorize' => array(
'Actions' => array('actionPath' => 'controllers')
)
),
);
public function beforeFilter() {
$this->Auth->authorize = array(
'Controller',
'Actions' => array('actionPath' => 'controllers')
);
$this->Auth->authenticate = array('Form' => array('fields' => array('username' => 'name', 'password' => 'password')));
$this->Auth->loginAction = array('controller' => 'users', 'action' => 'login', 'admin' => false, 'plugin' => false);
$this->Auth->logoutRedirect = array('controller' => 'users', 'action' => 'login', 'admin' => false, 'plugin' => false);
}
public function isAuthorized($user) {
// Default deny
return false;
}
}
EDIT:
in UserModel and GroupModel add act as property:
public $actsAs = array('Acl' => array('type' => 'requester'));
in UserModel setup parentNode function:
public function parentNode() {
if (!$this->id && empty($this->data)) {
return null;
}
if (isset($this->data['User']['group_id'])) {
$groupId = $this->data['User']['group_id'];
} else {
$groupId = $this->field('group_id');
}
if (!$groupId) {
return null;
} else {
return array('Group' => array('id' => $groupId));
}
}