The Bakery Everything CakePHP

Why?

PaginatedTableHelper is an evolution of the solution posted by Teknoid (http://teknoid.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/displaying-sort-direction-in-paginated-data/). Teknoid's solution uses inline PHP logic making it hard to re-use.

How?

To use PaginatedTableHelper just include it in your controller like any other Helper.

Download code var $helpers = array('PaginatedTable', 'Javascript', ...);
This is an example of how it can be used in your Views.

View Template:

Download code
<table>
    <tr>
        <?php echo $paginatedTable->header('name', __('Name', true)); ?>
        <?php echo $paginatedTable->header('address', __('Address', true)); ?>
        <?php echo $paginatedTable->header('zip', __('Postal Code', true)); ?>
        <?php echo $paginatedTable->header('city', __('City', true)); ?>
        <?php echo $paginatedTable->header('country', __('Country', true)); ?>
    </tr>
    <?php foreach ($people as $person) { ?>
    <tr>
        <td><?php echo $person['Person']['name']; ?></td>
        <td><?php echo $person['Person']['address']; ?></td>
        <td><?php echo $person['Person']['zip']; ?></td>
        <td><?php echo $person['Person']['city']; ?></td>
        <td><?php echo $person['Person']['country']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    <?php } ?>
</table>


Styling

The headers can be styled to match your design using CSS. This is how I usually style it just to give you an idea of how it can be used.

Download code
th a {
        /* Move the header link to the right so that 
           it doesn't cover the direction icon. */
    margin-left: 12px;
}
.asc, .desc, .undefined {
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    background-position: left center;
}
.asc {
    background-image: url('../img/sort_down.png');
}
.desc {
    background-image: url('../img/sort_up.png');
}
.undefined {
    background-image: url('../img/sort_undefined.png');
}


Code

Helper Class:

Download code <?php 
<?php
class PaginatedTableHelper extends AppHelper {

    var $helpers = array('Html', 'Paginator');

    function header($field, $name = null, $options = array()) {
        $sort = ($this->Paginator->sortKey() == $field ? $this->Paginator->sortDir() : 'undefined');
        $name = (!isset($name) ? Inflector::humanize($field) : $name);
        
        return $this->Html->tag('th', 
            $this->Paginator->sort($name, $field, $options), 
            array('class' => $sort)
        );
    }
    
}
?>
?>
I know, it's simple, but maybe someone will find it useful :)