Configure PhpStorm to Auto-complete CakePHP Models, Views, and Controllers

After playing around a bit today I finally figured out how to get PhpStorm to auto-complete methods for models and controllers. Here's what you need to do.

Removing Multiple Definitions

First, let's tackle the multiple definitions problem that we see below.

There are multiple places defining AppController. We need to remove the ones that are included in the following locations from our 'Directories' in the project's settings.

The two locations are:

• $CAKEHOME/cake/console
• $CAKEHOME/cake/tests

Next we need to mark the following file as plain text.

• $CAKEHOME/cake/libs/controllers/app_controller.php

You should now see that PhpStorm is no longer complaining about multiple definitions. If it is you may want to check your plugins/components to see if they're mucking it up. If they are, just mark the file with the definition as plain text.

Auto-completion should now work for the controller. However, it's still not working correctly on our model.

Adding the Model

To fix the model we need to add a magic property to the class.

 /**  
 *@property ModelName $ModelName  
 */  

Here's an example from the controller we've been working in.

 We can now auto-complete on our models in the controller.

Defining Model Relationships

Lastly, we need to add magic properties to our models to define its relationships with other models. Basically, for each "belongs to" relationship defined in the model's file you need to add the magic property comment.

We can now auto-complete these relationships.

Setting Up Helper Auto-completion in Views

To get auto-completion working in views we need to include a file created by junichi11 over at GitHub.

Download this file and save it in a directory somewhere outside of your current project. I did this so I could use the same file on multiple projects.

• CakePHP Helper Code Completion

Now add that directory to your current project.

Open a view file and add the following variable definition.

 /**  
 *@var $this View  
 */  

You should now be able to auto-complete helpers in your view!

Core Component Auto-Completion

Add the following to your app_controller.php file and this will add component auto-completion.

 /**  
  * CakePHP Component & Model Code Completion  
  * @author junichi11  
  *  
  * ==============================================  
  * CakePHP Core Components  
  * ==============================================  
  * @property AuthComponent $Auth  
  * @property AclComponent $Acl  
  * @property CookieComponent $Cookie  
  * @property EmailComponent $Email  
  * @property RequestHandlerComponent $RequestHandler  
  * @property SecurityComponent $Security  
  * @property SessionComponent $Session  
  */