YII framework tutorial for beginers

To create a YII base site
go to the folder where you want to create it
and run the following command
"YIIROOT_PATH\framework\yiic" webapp webAccessible
generates a site stub inside webAccessible folder
PS: YIIROOT_PATH\framework need not be web accessible

first login is
demo:demo
and
admin:admin

config files are in

protected\config folder of the stub
set DataBase details in protected/config/main.php
'db'=>array(
PS:comment default which is sqlite and uncomment the one below it for MYSQL
Gii tool
=======
edit protected\config\main.php
uncomment 3 lines pertaining to gii
set a password
edit 'ipFilters' carefully with the server name you use
http://www.yiiframework.com/doc/api/1.1/GiiModule#ipFilters-detail

or use localhost to use gii

http://localhost/YII_SITE_PATH/index.php?r=gii
pw:Crud password
CRUD files created by Gii will be array("protected".DS."controllers".DS."CRUD_NAMEController.php",
========= "protected".DS."models".DS."CRUD_NAME.php",
"protected".DS."views".DS."CRUD_NAME" /*this is folder*/);


Additionally the following files are created
protected\runtime\gii-1.1.14\CrudCode.php
protected\runtime\gii-1.1.14\ModelCode.php

Changing Field types(eg:text to drop down ) in CRUD forms
============================================
http://jmmurphy.blogspot.in/2013/05/using-yii-model-relations.html
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17264317/need-help-to-create-crud-screen-with-dropdown-relation-using-yii-framework
Altering crud forms for multiple models in one go
======================================
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/384/creating-and-updating-model-and-its-related-models-in-one-form-inc-image/
this also contain example of transaction management $trans = Yii::app()->db->beginTransaction(); $trans->commit(); and $trans->rollback();

Module files created by GII will be in the folder
===================
protected\modules\MODULE_NAME\
they are created based on the templates in framework\gii\generators\module\templates\default.
additionally the file 'protected\runtime\gii-1.1.14\ModuleCode.php' is also created

Modules can be created without gii tool also though not necessary
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/how-create-modules-in-yii-1483367.S.156442090

Setting Module paramenters in protected/config/main.php
http://www.yiiframework.com/doc/guide/1.1/pt/basics.module

http://localhost/YII_SITE_PATH/index.php?r=greeting/index
or
http://YII_SITE/index.php/greeting/index
or even
=======
http://YII_SITE/greeting/index

after creating/editing .htaccess and protected/config/main.php

'urlFormat'=>'path',
'showScriptName'=>false,
//'caseSensitive'=>false, //NEVER SET THIS THIS WILL NOT LET MODULES LOAD

(should also enable mod_rewrite pache module for this to work)
as mentioned in
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/214/url-hide-index-php/

contollerId/ActionId
protected/controllers/GreetingController.php
protected/views/greeting/index.php



pass variable from controller to view by altering controller code from
=========================================================
$this->render('index);
to
$this->render('index',array('content' => $this->message));

and use $content variable in view file

you can use $this->message directly in view file as well

using database
--------------------------

http://vimeo.com/18448007

edit protected/config/main.php
comment
'db'=>array(
'connectionString' => 'sqlite:'.dirname(__FILE__).'/../data/testdrive.db',
),
uncomment the 'db' config of MYSQL below setting database details correctly

gii Model generator
=================
generates
models\Message.php where Message is the name of the model specified in 'Model generator' form

to use message from database
$message = Message::model()->findByPK(4);
$this->message = $message->content;
CRUD Generator
==================
use model name made with "Model Generator" and a suitable controller name

Make user login from db
==================
http://danaluther.blogspot.in/2010/03/yii-authentication-via-database.html (also mentions how to use CRDU in command line,check my addendum also )
http://www.yiiframework.com/doc/guide/1.1/en/topics.auth

Add additional admin users
============================
$auth=Yii::app()->authManager;
//if not already added run the following comment just once
//$role = $auth->createRole('admin', 'administrator');
$record=User::model()->findByAttributes(array('username'=>$username));//Check http://www.yiiframework.com/doc/api/1.1/CActiveRecord for all search functions available for User::model()
$userId = $record->id;
$auth->assign('admin',$userId);
Assigning Biz rule for role 'mcqadder' and checking in script
============================================
return in_array('mcqadder',array_keys(Yii::app()->authManager->getAuthAssignments(Yii::app()->user->id)));

Yii::app()->user->checkAccess('mcqadder')

Usefull functions to get parameter URL etc
=======================================
//Yii::app()->request->getQuery($key, $defaultValue) and getPost() with the same parameters.
//Yii::app()->controller->id and Yii::app()->controller->action->id
//ie(Yii::app()->request->url);
Create YII site url with params
=======================
Yii::app()->createUrl('faq/index', array('cid' => 'asas'))
Redirect
============
Yii::app()->request->redirect(Yii::app()->user->returnUrl);
Login and logut with code
===================
http://www.yiiframework.com/doc/guide/1.1/en/topics.auth#login-and-logout
leave login for a certain period using Cookie
==================================
http://www.yiiframework.com/doc/guide/1.1/en/topics.auth#cookie-based-login

to change site name
==================
edit protected/config/main.php
change 'name' =>

to set title and meta dynamically
==============================
use the following code in ControllerAction
$this->pageTitle = 'New Title';

Yii::app()->clientScript->registerMetaTag('foo, bar', 'keywords');
Yii::app()->clientScript->registerMetaTag('foodescription, bardescription', 'description');
to set default meta values set them in protected/controllers/SiteController.php
Edit overall layout
===============
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/249/understanding-the-view-rendering-flow/
edit protected/views/layouts/main.php
Change Contact email
==================
'adminEmail' in protected/config/main.php
Change remove//Default Logins
==========================
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10772615/yii-framework-remove-demo-admin-accounts
under protected/components you'll find UserIdentity.php, the users and their passwords will be declared in the authenticate function using an array.

To modify top menu
==================
edit protected\views\layouts\main.php
to ad external link or open in target_blank
array('label'=>'Gii', 'url'=>'http://SiteURL','linkOptions'=>array('target'=>'_blank')),

Useful Extensions
===============
GIIX to create CRUD forrelationsal tables
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.yiiframework.com/extension/giix
https://github.com/rcoelho/giix
https://github.com/rcoelho/giix/blob/master/INSTALL

Running Queries
==============
http://sonsonz.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/executing-sql-statements/
Load Javascript
============
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/572/how-to-include-javascript-css/
Events and behaviors
===================
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/44/
Admin panel Basics
========================
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/33/
another method with yii behavior feature
http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/63/organize-directories-for-applications-with-front-end-and-back-end-using-webapplicationend-behavior

Auth permissions
===================
http://www.yiiframework.com/doc/guide/1.1/en/topics.auth
http://www.benjaminlhaas.com/blog/installing-yii-users-and-rights-5-steps