CakePHP select default value in SELECT input

Question

Using CakePHP:

I have a many-to-one relationship, let's pretend it's many Leafs to Trees. Of course, I baked a form to add a Leaf to a Tree, and you can specify which Tree it is with a drop-down box ( tag) created by the form helper.

The only thing is, the SELECT box always defaults to Tree #1, but I would like it to default to the Tree it's being added to:

For example, calling example.com/leaf/add/5 would bring up the interface to add a new Leaf to Tree #5. The dropdown box for Leaf.tree_id would default to "Tree 5", instead of "Tree 1" that it currently defaults to.

What do I need to put in my Leaf controller and Leaf view/add.ctp to do this?

Answer 1

FormHelper::select(string $fieldName, array $options, 
array $attributes)

$attributes['value'] to set which value should be selected default

<?php echo $this->Form->select('status', $list, array(
    'empty' => false, 
    'value' => 1)
); ?>

Answer 2

You should never use select(), or text(), or radio() etc.; it's terrible practice. You should use input():

$form->input('tree_id', array('options' => $trees));

Then in the controller:

$this->data['Leaf']['tree_id'] = $id;

Answer 3

Assuming you are using form helper to generate the form:

select(string $fieldName, array $options, mixed $selected, array $attributes, boolean $showEmpty)

Set the third parameter to set the selected option.

Answer 4

In CakePHP 1.3, use 'default'=>value to select the default value in a select input:

$this->Form->input('Leaf.id', array('type'=>'select', 'label'=>'Leaf', 'options'=>$leafs, 'default'=>'3'));

Answer 5

If you are using cakephp version 3.0 and above, then you can add default value in select input using empty attribute as given in below example.

echo $this->Form->input('category_id', ['options'=>$categories,'empty'=>'Choose']);

Answer 6

The best answer to this could be

Don't use selct for this job use input instead

like this

echo  $this->Form->input('field_name', array(
          'type' => 'select',
            'options' => $options_arr, 
            'label' => 'label here',
            'value' => $id,  // default value
            'escape' => false,  // prevent HTML being automatically escaped
            'error' => false,
            'class' => 'form-control' // custom class you want to enter
        ));

Hope it helps.