How to make a symlink in Windows 7

1. open cmd (as an admin)
2. type:

mklink /d linkpath targetpath

example:

mklink /d c:\easytoremember c:\users\neil\local\applicationdata\temp\hardtoremember

on Database Trees

This is more a note to myself, but it looks like the best tree option in a database is Recursive Query, at least in Postgres, which supports the WITH clause.

Closure Table is the next best option.

Optimistic Concurrency Control with Yii's Activerecord

Here's how to do Optimistic Concurrency Control with Yii's ActiveRecord:

class OCCActiveRecord extends CActiveRecord{

  public $checksum = null;

  public function afterFind(){

    /* get a checksum of all the attribute values after reading a record from db */

    $this->checksum = md5(implode('', $this->getAttributes(false)));

    parent::afterFind();
  }

    public function rules(){

/* use an exist validator to make sure that a record with the same checksum is still in db. if it's been modified, then checksums will be different */

 return array(
     array('id', 'exist', 'message'=>'This record was modified after you read it', 'on'=>'update', 'criteria'=>array('condition'=>'md5(concat('.implode(',',$this->attributeNames()).'))=:checksum', 'params'=>array('checksum'=>$this->checksum)))
 );
    }

}

Just a rough sketch, but you get the idea.

You could also modify this to be a behavior. Works only with MySQL AFAIK.

Table Inheritance with Yii ActiveRecord

Need to use Table Inheritance with ActiveRecord? Here's how:

This is Single Table Inheritance only.

Imagine that you want People contacts and Organization contacts. You don't want to keep them in different tables, as sometimes you sell to people, and sometimes you sell to organizations, and you want to keep a single (foreign) key to the party that you sold to.

We will create a class called Party, with subtypes Person and Organization. They will share some of Party's rules and relationships.

Here is the database schema:

CREATE TABLE `tbl_party` (
 `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
 `type` char(1) NOT NULL comment 'p=person,o=organization',
 `name` varchar(255) NOT NULL comment 'surname if a person',
 `given_name` varchar(255) DEFAULT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ;

and here is the model code:

class Party extends CActiveRecord {

    public static function model($className=__CLASS__){
 return parent::model($className);
    }

    public function tableName(){
 return 'tbl_party';
    }

    

    public function relations(){
 return array(
     
 );
    }

    public function rules(){
 return array(
     array('name,type','required'),
     array('type','in', 'range'=>array('o','p'))
 );
    }
}

class Person extends Party {

    /* this is required for subtypes */
    public static function model($className=__CLASS__){
 return parent::model($className);
    }

    public function defaultScope(){
        /* only read Parties that are People */
 return array(
     'condition'=>"type='p'"
 );
    }

    public function relations(){
        /* combine parent and own relations. can have 'People' only relations  */

 $parentRelations = parent::relations();

 $myRelations = array(

 );

 return array_merge($myRelations, $parentRelations);
    }

    public function rules(){
        /* combine parent and own rules */

 $parentRules = parent::rules();

 $myRules = array(
     array('type', 'default', 'value'=>'p'), /* set type to Person */
     array('type', 'in', 'range'=>array('p')), /* allow only Person type */
     array('given_name', 'required') /* new rule for this subtype only */
 );

 /* you want to apply parent rules last, delete them here if necessary */
 return array_merge($myRules, $parentRules);
    }

}

class Organization extends Party {

    public static function model($className=__CLASS__){
 return parent::model($className);
    }

    public function defaultScope(){
 return array(
     'condition'=>"type='o'"
 );
    }

    public function relations(){
 $parentRelations = parent::relations();

 $myRelations = array(
     
 );

 return array_merge($myRelations, $parentRelations);
    }

    public function rules(){
 $parentRules = parent::rules();

 $myRules = array(
     array('type', 'default', 'value'=>'o'),
     array('type', 'in', 'range'=>array('o'))
 );

 /* you want to apply parent rules last. delete them if necessary */
 return array_merge($myRules, $parentRules);
    }
}

Database Notes

Wanna build your schema online and share?

WW SQL Designer

Wanna test your SQL query online and share?

SQL Fiddle

This might come in handy for you, if you are struggling with a SQL query:

Common MySQL Queries

If you don't fully understand JOINs:

A Visual Explanation of SQL Joins

Wanna hot-backup your InnoDB database?

Percona XtraBackup (open source)

Need to recover a corrupt InnoDB table?

Percona Data Recovery Tool for InnoDB (open source)

Need to generate massive test data?

Benerator

Want to Validate your SQL?

Mimer SQL Validator

Random:

1. if you want decent full-text search, choose PostgreSQL over MySQL, as MySQL doesn't support free-text search at the same time as foreign keys and transactions.
2. Set your database to use the UTC timezone

How to read a JSON POST with Yii, and save it to the database

Let's say you are sending a json-encoded object to your create action, and want to save it in your database. here's how:

public function actionCreate() {

//read the post input (use this technique if you have no post variable name):
  $post = file_get_contents("php://input");

  //decode json post input as php array:
  $data = CJSON::decode($post, true);

  //contact is a Yii model:
  $contact = new Contact();

  //load json data into model:
  $contact->attributes = $data;

//this is for responding to the client:
  $response = array();

  //save model, if that fails, get its validation errors:
  if ($contact->save() === false) {
    $response['success'] = false;
    $response['errors'] = $contact->errors;
  } else {
    $response['success'] = true;
    
    //respond with the saved contact in case the model/db changed any values
    $response['contacts'] = $contact; 
  }

  //respond with json content type:
  header('Content-type:application/json');
  

//encode the response as json:
  echo CJSON::encode($response);

  //use exit() if in debug mode and don't want to return debug output
  exit();
}

Here is my new blog about learning Ext JS

ExtJS is a great rich internet application library, written in javascript

http://extjs-tutorials.blogspot.com/

Abandoning Jquery and Server-Generated HTML, moving to ExtJS + Yii backend

Our team wasted far too long trying to get our web app working with jQuery. Finally we discovered the joys of ExtJS 4, and are moving all development there.

Still using Yii as the backend for its nice models and controllers, as well as RBAC.

Which databases does Yii support?

Yii uses PDO, which is good, as it supports parameters, which can help to prevent SQL injection attacks.

As of Yii 1.1.8, it supports the following:

• PostgreSQL
• MySQL
• sqlite 3 and sqlite 2
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle

Yii also supports dblib

Some other useful database features supported by Yii include:

• transactions
• schema caching for ActiveRecord
• query caching
• null conversion
• database cache dependencies
• performance profiling

Use session instead of stateful forms

Here's why:

1. If you decide to use AJAX later on (in particular I mean to HIJAX your forms), you'll have to set and get the YII_PAGE_STATE variable for every action, which is a pain in the ass. 
2. page state is broken when you try to use partial rendering. Even if the partially rendered form is a complete CActiveForm, YII_PAGE_STATE will end up blank. 

I am referring to pages that post back to themselves and that have related sub-items for which you need to maintain state. 

How to install phpunit on Windows

the PHPUnit installer appears to be written by someone with mild autism....there's no other explanation for it.

either way, here's how i was able to install phpunit:


open the command prompt, type: (enter for each line)

1. pear channel-update pear.php.net
2. pear upgrade-all
3. pear channel-discover pear.phpunit.de
4. pear channel-discover components.ez.no
5. pear channel-discover pear.symfony-project.com
6. pear update-channels
7. pear install -a -f phpunit/PHPUnit

How to output related values in json

CJSON::encode() is nice for outputting arrays of models or a dataProvider, but it doesnt output relations.

here's how to do it. This function will output an array of models, with their related values (as deep as you wanna go), in JSON format. Instead of showing every attribute, you indicate the ones you want to output using $attributeNames. The key is the CHtml::value() function, that can output related values easily.

/**
   * takes an array of models and their attributes names and outputs them as json. works with relations unlike CJSON::encode()
   * @param $models array an array of models, consider using $dataProvider->getData() here
   * @param $attributeNames string a comma delimited list of attribute names to output, for relations use relationName.attributeName
      * @return void doesn't return anything, but changes content type to json and outputs json and exits
   */

  function json_encode_with_relations(array $models, $attributeNames) {
    $attributeNames = explode(',', $attributeNames);

    $rows = array(); //the rows to output
    foreach ($models as $model) {
      $row = array(); //you will be copying in model attribute values to this array 
      foreach ($attributeNames as $name) {
        $name = trim($name); //in case of spaces around commas
        $row[$name] = CHtml::value($model, $name); //this function walks the relations 
      }
      $rows[] = $row;
    }
    header('Content-type:application/json');
    echo CJSON::encode($rows);
    exit(); //or Yii::app()->end() if you want the log to show in debug mode
  }

//usage:

$myModels = $myDataProvider->getData(); //or you can use $model->findAll();

$modelAttributeNames = 'id, subject, body, someStatisticalRelationName, someRelationName.attribute, someRelationName.someOtherRelationName.attribute';

json_encode_with_relations( $myModels, $modelAttributeNames );

The minimum necessary site structure to run Yii, Part ii

In a previous post , I discussed how to make a minimal site with Yii. Well, here's an even smaller one, with only two files, maybe five lines of code, and no folders:

index.php:

<?
//load yii framework (you'll likely have to change the path):

require_once( dirname(__FILE__).'/../../yii/framework/yii.php' );

//create the app. note that it does not require a config file, you can just pass in an array:

$app = Yii::createWebApplication( array (
  'basePath' => dirname( __FILE__ ) , // if you don't want Protected folder
  'controllerPath' => '' // if you don't want Controllers folder
))->run();

?>

SiteController.php:

<?
class SiteController extends CController
{
  public function actionIndex()
  {
    echo 'hello world';
  }
}
?>

Now, this doesn't work with Gii or crazy things like assets, but that's probably the smallest Yii installation you can make

Using CPropertyValue to convert types

Yii's CPropertyValue class is interesting. It has some useful methods to convert values. Some examples:

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureArray( '1,2,a' ) );
/* output: array 0 => string '1,2,3' (length=5) */

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureArray( '(1,2,"a")' ) );
/* output:
  array
    0 => int 1
    1=> int 2
    2 => string 'a' (length=1)
 */

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureBoolean( "TRUE" ) );
/* output: boolean true */

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureBoolean( "yii" ) );
/* output: boolean false */

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureFloat( "3.9" ) );
/* output: float 3.9  */

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureInteger( "3.9" ) );
/* output: int 3 */

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureObject( array("a"=>1, "b"=>2) ) );
/* output:
object(stdClass)[53]
  public 'a' => int 0
  public 'b' => int 1
 */

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureString( 5 ) );
/* output: string 5 (length=1) */

ensureEnum ensures that a value is among a list of enumerated values. pass it in a value and a class name that extends CEnumerable and it will throw an error if value is not among the enumerated values.

class SortDirection extends CEnumerable
{
  const Asc="Asc";
  const Desc="Desc";
}

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureEnum( "Up" , 'SortDirection' ) );
/* output: throws an error */

var_dump( CPropertyValue::ensureEnum( "Asc" , 'SortDirection' ) );
/* output: string 'Asc' (length=3) */

How to use the Filter Validator in Yii

Here's a quick example on how to use the Filter Validator in Yii.

The filter validator isn't actually a validator, it's a filter :) You give it a php function name to run, and it will run that function on the value of the attribute, when validate() is called.

class Address extends CFormModel /* or CActiveRecord */
{
  public $postal_code;
  public $street;

  public function rules()
  {
    return array(
 //call trim() when validate() is called
 array('street', 'filter', 'filter'=>'trim'),

 /* call my custom function filterPostalCode when validate() is called
  * you can pass it any callback function, but it should only have one parameter
  */
 array('postal_code', 'filter', 'filter'=>array( $this, 'filterPostalCode' )),

 /* if you are going to filter, then you should put the required validator last, as the validators are called in order */
 array('postal_code, street', 'required'),
    );
  }

  public function filterPostalCode($value)
  {
    //strip out non letters and numbers
    $value = preg_replace('/[^A-Za-z0-9]/', '', $value);
    return strtoupper($value);
  }
}

Usage:

$address = new Address;
$address->postal_code ="m5w-1e6";
$address->street = " 123 main street ";
$address->validate();
echo "$address->street $address->postal_code";
$address->postal_code ="/*-*/*-*/-";
$address->street = "     ";
$address->validate();
var_dump($address->errors);

Output:

123 main street M5W1E6

array
  'postal_code' => 
    array
      0 => string 'Postal Code cannot be blank.' (length=28)
  'street' => 
    array
      0 => string 'Street cannot be blank.' (length=23)

CClientScript positioning

CClientScript is useful for including css files and javscript files, while avoiding duplication.

Things to know:

1. Yii injects css files just above the <title> tag. So, if you want to always override some included yii style, put your <styles> or <link rel=stylesheets> AFTER the <title> tag, and it will get loaded after the yii styles.

2. I recommend putting all your <styles> and <link rel=stylsheets> in the <head> and all your <scripts> just before </body>. <scripts> are blocking, so your page will load faster if the <scripts> are at the bottom. use:

Yii::app()->getClientScript()->coreScriptPosition = CClientScript::POS_END;

3. if you want to include some inline javascript in a view, but make it load at the bottom, after say jquery, use the registerScript() method. To format your js nicely, you can use the Heredoc syntax:

/* load some formatted js into a php variable: */
$js = <<<EOF
var = 'some javascript here!';
    function() { return 'you can format it as you like, and include php $variables'; };
EOF;

/* write the script at the bottom of the document  */
Yii::app()->getClientScript()->registerScript("some id", $js, CClientScript::POS_END);

Shades of Grey (or Gray :)

black(Safe 16 SVG Hex3) #000000		gray1 #030303		gray2 #050505
gray3 #080808		gray4 #0A0A0A		gray5 #0D0D0D
gray6 #0F0F0F		gray7 #121212		gray8 #141414
gray9 #171717		gray10 #1A1A1A		gray11 #1C1C1C
gray12 #1F1F1F		gray13 #212121		gray14 #242424
gray15 #262626		gray16 #292929		gray17 #2B2B2B
gray18 #2E2E2E		gray19 #303030		gray20(Safe Hex3) #333333
gray21 #363636		gray22 #383838		gray23 #3B3B3B
gray24 #3D3D3D		gray25 #404040		gray26 #424242
gray27 #454545		gray28 #474747		gray29 #4A4A4A
gray30 #4D4D4D		gray31 #4F4F4F		gray32 #525252
gray33(Hex3) #555555		gray34 #575757		gray35 #595959
gray36 #5C5C5C		gray37 #5E5E5E		gray38 #616161
gray39 #636363		gray40(Safe Hex3) #666666		dimgrey(SVG) #696969
dimgray(SVG) #696969		gray42 #6B6B6B		gray43 #6E6E6E
gray44 #707070		gray45 #737373		gray46 #757575
gray47 #787878		gray48 #7A7A7A		gray49 #7D7D7D
grey(16 SVG) #808080		gray50 #7F7F7F		gray(16 SVG) #808080
gray51 #828282		gray52 #858585		gray53 #878787
gray54 #8A8A8A		gray55 #8C8C8C		gray56 #8F8F8F
gray57 #919191		gray58 #949494		gray59 #969696
gray60(Safe Hex3) #999999		gray61 #9C9C9C		gray62 #9E9E9E
gray63 #A1A1A1		gray64 #A3A3A3		gray65 #A6A6A6
darkgray(SVG) #A9A9A9		gray66 #A8A8A8		darkgrey(SVG) #A9A9A9
gray67 #ABABAB		sgilightgray(Hex3) #AAAAAA		gray68 #ADADAD
gray69 #B0B0B0		gray70 #B3B3B3		gray71 #B5B5B5
gray72 #B8B8B8		gray73 #BABABA		gray74 #BDBDBD
silver(16 SVG) #C0C0C0		gray #BEBEBE		gray75 #BFBFBF
gray76 #C2C2C2		gray77 #C4C4C4		gray78 #C7C7C7
gray79 #C9C9C9		verylightgrey #CDCDCD		gray80(Safe Hex3) #CCCCCC
gray81 #CFCFCF		gray82 #D1D1D1		gray83 #D4D4D4
lightgrey(SVG) #D3D3D3		lightgray(SVG) #D3D3D3		gray84 #D6D6D6
gray85 #D9D9D9		gainsboro(SVG) #DCDCDC		gray86 #DBDBDB
gray87 #DEDEDE		gray88 #E0E0E0		gray89 #E3E3E3
gray90 #E5E5E5		gray91 #E8E8E8		gray92 #EBEBEB
gray93 #EDEDED		gray94 #F0F0F0		gray95 #F2F2F2
whitesmoke(SVG) #F5F5F5		gray97 #F7F7F7		gray98 #FAFAFA
gray99 #FCFCFC		white(Safe 16 SVG Hex3) #FFFFFF

Cross-Browser CSS Horizontal Centering


/* use for inline (such as text or images) children */
.hcenter-child
{
text-align:center;
}
/*reset the text align, as it inherits*/
.hcenter-child *
{
text-align:left;
}

/* use for block children (ex divs) */
.hcenter
{
width:96%; /*needs any width other than auto*/
margin-left:auto;
margin-right:auto;
}


Cross-Browser CSS Border Radius


.round-borders
{
-moz-border-radius:5px;
-webkit-border-radius:5px;
border-radius:5px;

/*see http://tumble.sneak.co.nz/post/928998513/fixing-the-background-bleed*/
-moz-background-clip: padding;
-webkit-background-clip: padding-box;
background-clip: padding-box;
/*use a behavior file for border radius for IE6-8. see http://www.impressivewebs.com/css3-rounded-corners-in-internet-explorer/ 
or try the jquery corner plugin */

}


Cross-Browser CSS Opacity

.opacity
{
opacity:.5; /*50%*/
filter:alpha(opacity=50);
zoom:1; /*iefix*/
}