cakePHP build a select box from custom array - php

Question

So we have a variety of search pages each with different search criteria, so I decided to write a component which will get parameters passed to it from the controller, collect the neccesary data and return an array which I could then set to be used within my view file to populate drop down boxes to filter the criteria.
I have managed to get everything write up to where I must use the cakePHP helper to build a dynamical select box. I am convinced that I am doing something wrong and if there is an easier way to do this and still keep it somewhat dynamic please assist where you can:
// COMPONENT METHOD:
public function filterQueries($parameters) {
// Get defaults from the user:
$criteria = $parameters["custom"];
$defaults = $parameters["defaults"];
// Validate the defaults the user may want and assign them to the return array:
if($defaults != "false") {
foreach($defaults as $key => $value) {
if(array_key_exists($value, $this->defaults)) {
$this->returnArray["defaults"][$value] = $this->defaults[$value];
}
}
}
// Get all data for the custom requested form fields:
if($criteria != false) {
foreach($criteria as $model => $arguments) {
$fields = $arguments["fields"];
$conditions = $arguments["conditions"];
$recursive = $arguments["recursive"];
if(!in_array($model,$this->uses)) {
$useModel = ClassRegistry::init($model);
} else {
$useModel = $this->$$model;
}
$array = $useModel->find("all",array("conditions" => $conditions, "fields" => $fields, "recursive" => $recursive));
$this->returnArray["custom"][$model] = $array;
}
}
return $this->returnArray;
}
The above function will get an array which breaks down either custom searches or defaults (not included above but it all works, it returns the array exactly as I would have expected it.
// The code within my action to get the content from above:
// Load the Filters component to search data:
$search = $this->Components->load("Filter");
// Tell search what you want:
$searchBoxes = array(
"defaults" => array("statuses", "survey_type"),
"custom" => array(
"User" => array(
"fields" => array("User.id","User.first_name", "User.last_name"),
"conditions" => array("User.user_group_id" => "4f847c63-1840-446e-88be-3e4d29566cf0"),
"recursive" => -1
)
)
);
$filterResults = $search->filterQueries($searchBoxes);
$this->set("filters",$filterResults);
So now I get this multi-associative array within my view file (all still fine), but I want to now build example a drop down list of the users based on the array created above, but the outcome is nothing like what I expected:
echo $this->Form->input('user_id',
array(
"type" => "select",
"options" => $filters["custom"]["User"]
)
);
The HTML output is broken and displays it like this:
<option value="last_name">Doe</option>
<option value="first_name">Jihn</option>
<optgroup label="User"> </optgroup>
<optgroup label="1"> </optgroup>
<option value="last_name">Marilyn</option>
<option value="first_name">Monroe</option>
I acknowledge that I do not have a lot of cake experience but cannot understand how to just get the results to :
<option value='USERID'>NAME</option> // Yes I know the names and surnames must be concatinated still
Any advise help or guidance on how to do it, and do it the right way, would greatly be appreciated :)
VARDUMP ON $filters['custom']['users']
array
0 =>
array
'User' =>
array
'id' => string '4f84840e-cda8-4704-8fdf-210729566cf0' (length=36)
'first_name' => string 'Name' (length=4)
'last_name' => string 'Surname' (length=11)
1 =>
array
'User' =>
array
'id' => string '4f8488cb-53e0-4f72-af73-3de229566cf0' (length=36)
'first_name' => string 'Name' (length=6)
'last_name' => string 'Surname' (length=6)

Answer 1

You can enhance your output by doing as follows:
1) for combining two fields of a table, you can use "virtualfields" in the model, as follows: For example if you have the user model, you can define as follows:
public $virtualFields = array(
'full_name' => 'CONCAT(first_name, " ",last_name)'
);
So now the "full_name" field will be got whenever you call the find method of the User model.
2) For getting the data from the table for a select box, you can use the find('list') method. For example for the User model if you need the id,full_name (last and first name combined using the virtual fields) of the table,it can be done as follows :
$this->User->find('list',array('fields'=>array('id','full_name'),'conditions'=>$conditions))
I hope this helps..

Answer 2

Well I guess what you want to do is actually create another array with formatted options.
foreach ($filters["custom"]["User"] as $arr)
{
$options[$arr['id']] = $arr['first_name'] . ' ' . $arr['last_name'];
}
then
echo $this->Form->select('user_id', $options);

Answer 3

I think you need something like this:
$result = Set::combine($filters["custom"]["User"],
'{n}.User.id', // this is the value of select box
array(
'{0} {1}',
'{n}.User.first_name',
'{n}.User.last_name'
) // this is the text of select box
);
pr($result);

Answer 4

$this->form->input('inputname', array('label' => false, 'options' => array('Select optionstype','a','b'), 'class'=>array('form-a', 'b'), 'id' => 'bacid', 'style' => 'width:280px;','value'=>$abc['model']['array_attribute']));

Answer 5

On cakePHP 3, I can't use "virtualFields" yet, but I can use as follows:
//In PostsController
$users = $this->Posts->Users->find('list',
['keyField' => 'id',
'valueField' => 'full_name', //Don't forget to call concatened field here
'conditions' => $conditions,
'order' => $orderBy
]);
//here the magic happens
$concat = $users->func()->concat(
['Users.first_name' => 'identifier',
' ',
'Users.last_name' => 'identifier'
]);
//selecting fields
$users->select(['id', 'full_name' => $concat]);
//sending to view
$this->set('users', $users->toArray());
I hope this helps CakePHP 3 developers