Passing data from CakePHP component to a helper

I need to share data between a component and helper. I'm converting my self-made payment service formdata generator to a CakePHP plugin and I'd like to be able to fill in the payment data from the controller(using a component) and use a helper to print out the data.

Everything I've tried so far have felt a little too hacky, so let me ask you: Is there any elegant way to pass data from a component to a helper?

edit:

I solved this particular situation by adding the original formadata class instance to ClassRegistry during the component initialization. This way the helper too can access the instance using ClassRegi开发者_C百科stry.

However, this only works for objects, so the question remains open.

Having a similar problem, I found this solution to work best for me.

You could use the helper's __construct method in pair with $controller->helpers array.

Since the Helper::_construct() is called after the Component::beforeRender, you can modify the $controller->helpers['YourHelperName'] array to pass the data to your helper.

Component code:

<?php

public function beforeRender($controller){
    $controller->helpers['YourHelperName']['data'] = array('A'=>1, 'B'=>2);
}
?>

Helper code:

<?php

function __construct($View, $settings){
    debug($settings);       
            /* outputs:
                array(
                    'data' => array(
                        'A' => (int) 1,
                        'B' => (int) 2
                    )
                )
            */
}

?>

I am using CakePHP 2.0, so this solution should be tested for earlier versions.

Is there any elegant way to pass data from a component to a helper?

Yes, the same way you pass any data to the helper. In your view.

Inside your component I would do something like the following. The beforeRender() action is a CakePHP component callback.

public function beforeRender(Controller $controller) {
    $yourVars = 'some data';
    $goHere = 'other stuff';

    $controller->set(compact('yourVars', 'goHere'));
}

Then in your view you can pass the data off to your helpers just like normal.

// view or layout *.ctp file
$this->YourHelper->yourMethod($yourVars);
$this->YourHelper->otherMethod($goHere);

In addition to what @Vanja, you can also do this just prior to instantiating a new view in your controller:

// In your controller method
// must be set prior to instantiating view
$this->helpers['YourHelperName']['paramsOrAnyName'] = ['var' => $passed_var];

$_newView = new View($this);
$return_result = $_newView->render($element_to_view, $layout);