Autocomplete for PHP Objects with classes in PDT/Netbeans?

Question

When I define an object of a class using new like this

$blah = new Whatever();

I get autocomplete for $blah. But how do I do it when I have $blah as a function parameter? Without autocomplete I am incomplete.

Edit: How do I do it if it's in an include and PDT or Netbeans can't figure it out? Is there any way to declare types for variables in PHP?

Answer 1

Try to pass parameter class definition into the function:

function myFunction(Whatever $blah) {
}

Answer 2

I have found/invented the answer, but it's only for Netbeans.

1. Make another PHP file in your project which you will not use (variableDefinitions.php, for instance).
2. In the file from #1, include the variable you're interested in with it's type like this: $blah = new Account(); where Account is the type, of course.
3. Now in any other file in the project -- even without including the new PHP you created in #1 -- you will get autocomplete for the $blah variable.

Answer 3

Method in first comment is called "type hinting", but you sould use that wisely. Better solution is phpDoc.

/**
 * Some description of what function do.
 *
 * @param Whatever $blah
 */
public function myFunction($blah)
{
    $blah-> 
    // Now $blah is Whatever object, autocompletion will work.
}

There is also inline phpDoc comment with do exactly the same thing.

public function myFunction($blah)
{
    /* @var $blah Whatever  */
    $blah-> 
    // Now $blah is Whatever object, autocompletion will work.
}