Question

I have one java script definition in view(.phtml) file. This java script has dynamic parameters like controller name and action name. To avoid duplicate code i want to put this code in helper file.

Now is it possible that i can use pure html and javascript code in helper file? If yes then how can i call that helper in my view file?

Or Is there any other best way to do this?

Thank you…

Answer 1

A view helper would not be the solution in this instance. More likely you will want to use a partial (which is a view helper). A view helper is something normally used to return a piece of data to the view. A partial() or partialLoop() is used to display common html in the view (pieces of html that can be reused in multiple views).

Here is an example of a simple view helper, notice it returns a result:

<?php

class Zend_View_Helper_FormatDate extends Zend_View_Helper_Abstract
{
    public function FormatDate($date) {

        if ($date != NULL) {
            $formatedDate = new DateTime($date);
            $format = $formatedDate->format('M d, Y');

            return $format;
        } else {
            return '';
        }
    }

}
//This is called in the view like any other function
<?php echo $this->FormatDate($date) ?>

Now a partial will contain Html (I’m petty sure JS will work as well)

Here is a partial that uses view helpers

fieldset><legend>Dates and Qualifications</legend>
    <table>
        <tr>
            <td>Birth Date: </td><td><?php echo $this->escape($this->FormatDate($this->bdate)) ?></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Seniority Date: </td><td><?php echo $this->escape($this->FormatDate($this->sendate)) ?></td>
        </tr>
    </table>
    <table>
        <tr>
            <td>I'm a Lead:</td><td><?php echo $this->escape(ucfirst($this->ToBool($this->lead))) ?></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Lead Date:</td><td><?php echo $this->escape($this->FormatDate($this->ldate)) ?></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>I'm an Inspector:</td><td><?php echo $this->escape(ucfirst($this->toBool($this->inspector))) ?></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Admin Login:</td><td><?php echo $this->escape(ucfirst($this->toBool($this->admin))) ?></td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</fieldset>

call this partial in your view script, the first argument is the path of the partial
the second argument is the data used in the partial

<?php echo $this->partial('_dates.phtml', $this->memberData) ?>

the data is sent from the controller action as usual $this->view->memberData = $memberData
This is common usage but not the only way to get data to the partial.

in this example the partial is at the default location /application/views/scripts

Hope this helps