CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phplaravellaravel-5
code-8
code-8

Reputation: 58662

Autoload helpers functions directory in Laravel 5

I've a class with a bunch of Date Helpers functions in it. I stored it at app\Helpers\DateHelper.php

Class

<?php

namespace App;

use DateTime;

class DateHelper {

    public static function day_ago($date) {

        if ($date) {

            $ts = time() - strtotime(str_replace("-","/", $date ));

            if($ts>31536000) $val = round($ts/31536000,0).' year';
            else if($ts>2419200) $val = round($ts/2419200,0).' month';
            else if($ts>604800) $val = round($ts/604800,0).' week';
            else if($ts>86400) $val = round($ts/86400,0).' day';
            else if($ts>3600) $val = round($ts/3600,0).' hour';
            else if($ts>60) $val = round($ts/60,0).' minute';
            else $val = $ts.' second';

            if($val>1) $val .= 's';

            return $val;


        }

    }

}

Composer.json

"autoload": {
    "classmap": [
        "database",
        "app/Helpers"
    ],
    "psr-4": {
        "App\\": "app/"
    },
    "files": ["app/Helper.php"]
},

Then, I run composer install

I got

Loading composer repositories with package information
Installing dependencies (including require-dev) from lock file
Nothing to install or update
Generating autoload files
> php artisan clear-compiled
> php artisan optimize
Generating optimized class loader

Alias

Then, I added to the alias array like this:

'DateHelper'  => 'app\Helpers\DateHelper',

Use

Then, I used it:

{{ DateHelper::day_ago($n->created_at) }}

Result

Now, I keep getting Class 'DateHelper' not found.

How do I properly add it ?

Upvotes: 3

Views: 1360

Answers (2)

user1669496
user1669496

Reputation: 33068

Your alias is wrong. The alias is meant to be the fully qualified class name with namespace, not the directory it's in.

'DateHelper'  => 'App\DateHelper',

I would suggest following PSR-4 standards. It would save time and minimize confusion.

Additionally, so this doesn't happen again, it would be better to use syntax like the following...

'DateHelper'  => App\DateHelper::class,

That way, you can be absolutely sure the class exists.

Upvotes: 3

Jilson Thomas
Jilson Thomas

Reputation: 7303

A typical example for a helper file in Laravel:

  1. Create a helper.php file in your app directory.
  2. Create your helper functions
  3. Now add the helper.php file in your composer.json file.
  4. Do a composer dump-autoload
  5. Now your helper function will be available throughout your project.

If you are creating a directory for the helper files, then namespace the helperfiles. 

"autoload": {
  "classmap": [
     "database",
   ],
   "psr-4": {
      "App\\": "app/",
      "Helpers\\": "app/helpers/" //This is if you are using the directory
   },
   "files": ["helper.php"] //This is if it's just a php file.
},

i.e : 

//app/helpers/helperClass.php
<?php namespace Helpers;

class helperClass{
  public function showDate()
  {
    //return
  }
}

In your controller, when you use the helper function, import the class.

i.e: 

use Helpers/helperClass;
//If you've creates an alias for this, use it here. 
use helperClass;   //(This is from the config/app.php file)

If it's a view, use it like: {{ \Helpers\helperClass::showDate() }}

Upvotes: 1

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