Yii Dropdown List Empty Value as Default - php

Question

I have a dropdownlist in my _form model and I want to add a empty value (which I want as default). I have the following:
In _form:
<?php echo $form->labelEx($model,'country_id'); ?>
<?php echo $form->dropDownList($model,'country_id',Country::items(),array('empty' => '--Select a country--')); ?>
<?php echo $form->error($model,'country_id'); ?>
In Model Country:
public static function items()
{
return CHtml::listData(Country::model()->findAllBySql(
'SELECT * from country'),
'id', 'name');
}
Even my empty option is in the first row in dropdownlist, the 1st country in list shows as default.
I tried:
<?php echo $form->dropDownList($model,'country_id',
Country::items(),array('empty'=>'--Select a country--',
'options'=>
array(
'3'=>array('selected'=>'selected')
)
));
?>
In this way I can choose the default option, but cant set it to empty value, just countries that came from model:items.
Any idea?

Answer 1

Are you sure that country_id property of your model is not set to anything when you print the dropdown list? The following works for me if $model instance is created using new Country() operator but not by populating properties from database:
<?php echo $form->dropDownList(
$model,
'country_id',
Country::items(),
array(
'empty'=>'--Select a country--')
);
?>

Answer 2

Read documentation. There is 'prompt' parameter.
Try this:
<?php
echo $form->dropDownList($model,'country_id',Country::items(), array(
'prompt' => '--Select a country--'
));
?>
See more details here http://www.yiiframework.com/forum/index.php/topic/11195-how-to-edit-the-default-option-in-dropdownlist/

Answer 3

You always can do something like array_merge in your items method
public static function items()
{
return array_merge(array(''=>'--Select a country--'), CHtml::listData(Country::model()->findAllBySql(
'SELECT * from country'),
'id', 'name'));
}

Answer 4

I believe youre looking for:
echo $form->dropDownList($model,'country_id',Country::items(),array('prompt'=>''));

Answer 5

if you use yiibooster maybe this will help
<?php echo $form->dropDownListGroup(
$model,
'kode_cuti_sub2',
array(
'empty'=>'--Select a country--',
'widgetOptions' => array(
'data' => array('Something ...', 'Pilih Jenis Cuti'=>Chtml::listData(Cuti::model()->cuti_sub2(),'kode','jenis_cuti')),
'options' => array(
'placeholder' => 'Pilih NIP Pegawai',
'width' => '100%',
),
),
'wrapperHtmlOptions' => array(
'class' => 'col-sm-5',
),
)
); ?>
in my case it's worked