CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phpmodel-view-controllerzend-frameworkzend-layout
Brad Morris
Brad Morris

Reputation: 365

Using Variables in layouts using Zend Framework

I am trying to learn how to use the Zend Framework and ive ran into trouble. Im trying to place the current users name in the header of the application (displayed on every page), specifically /layouts/scripts/default.phtml.

The MVC architecture is very new to me and confusing me greatly. I do not want to have to place the logic to display this username in the controller every time (this is probably the wrong way to do it anyway), so where would I place the code to assign this variable if not in each controller?

Cheers

Upvotes: 1

Views: 476

Answers (3)

vascowhite
vascowhite

Reputation: 18430

This is the kind of thing that action helpers were designed for. A full tutorial on them is a bit beyond the scope of SO, but there are several good tutorials available.

Start with the Zend Framework Documentation and then take a look at Mathew Weier O'Phinney's tutorial and also this one by Rob Allen.

The issue with using a base controller for this kind of thing is that the resources are loaded regardless of wether your controller needs them or not, whereas action helpers are loaded only if needed.

I almost forgot the excellent ZendCasts have a video on action helpers.

Upvotes: 2

Daniel Ribeiro
Daniel Ribeiro

Reputation: 10234

First, read the manual, and than try to accomplish something like this:

class BaseController extends Zend_Controller_Action {

    public function preDispatch() {
        // your logic to show the user name goes here
    }

}

class SomePageController extends BaseController {}

class SomeOtherPageController extends BaseController {}

This will most likely solve your problem.

Upvotes: 0

netcoder
netcoder

Reputation: 67745

You want a base controller and to assign that in the preDispatch method:

class MyApp_Controller_Action extends Zend_Controller_Action {
    public function preDispatch() {
        parent::preDispatch();
        Zend_Layout::getMvcInstance()->assign('username', getCurrentUserName());
    }
}

Then extend your own controllers with that new class:

class MyApp_Module_ActionController extends MyApp_Controller_Action {

}

Then in your layout view:

echo $this->layout()->username;

Upvotes: 1

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