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

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 selected option.

Answer 2

You should never use select(), or text(), or radio() etc, its 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

the third parameter should be like array('selected' =>value)