Joomla include database functions

Question

Hello. I'm using Joomla 1.5. I have created a custom component that pulls data out of the database perfectly. I initialize the database in my main component file like this:

$db =& JFactory::getDBO();

The problem is that I have a jQuery autocomplete plugin on my component page that makes calls to a PHP file from my component folder. That PHP file searches the database for matching results but I can't do the query because I can't call $db =& JFactory::getDBO(); because this is a custom PHP page and I can't access these functions without any references.

Can anybody help me to call Joomla functions in my custom file ?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I would recommend not calling a separate PHP file and instead using the raw view format in your component. To do this, create a view in your component for the data that jQuery will be pulling. For discussion, we'll call this view autocomplete. Set up the autocomplete view as you would any other, only using view.raw.php in place of view.html.php. Then in your JavaScript, call index.php?option=com_yourcomponent&view=autocomplete&format=raw. This HTTP call will ONLY return what you output in your view.

If you absolutely must run an external PHP file, take a look at creating a stand-alone application using the Joomla! Framework: http://docs.joomla.org/How_to_create_a_stand-alone_application_using_the_Joomla%21_Framework This is enough code to pull in JFactory and the database connection. But only use this if you really need to: otherwise, you are just creating another entry point into the Joomla! application that you will have to maintain and secure.

You may find Louis Landry's post on doing JSON helpful: http://groups.google.com/group/joomla-dev-cms/browse_thread/thread/5ac0b49c0f458b1a

I also blogged about this topic recently: http://www.designvsdevelop.com/the-way-not-to-do-javascript-in-joomla/