Abstract Class yii\gii\Generator

Inheritanceyii\gii\Generator » yii\base\Model » yii\base\Component » yii\base\BaseObject
ImplementsArrayAccess, IteratorAggregate, yii\base\Arrayable, yii\base\Configurable, yii\base\StaticInstanceInterface
Uses Traitsyii\base\ArrayableTrait, yii\base\StaticInstanceTrait
Subclassesyii\gii\generators\controller\Generator, yii\gii\generators\crud\Generator, yii\gii\generators\extension\Generator, yii\gii\generators\form\Generator, yii\gii\generators\model\Generator, yii\gii\generators\module\Generator, yii\mongodb\gii\model\Generator, yii\sphinx\gii\model\Generator
Available since version2.0
Source Code https://github.com/yiisoft/yii2-gii/blob/master/Generator.php

This is the base class for all generator classes.

A generator instance is responsible for taking user inputs, validating them, and using them to generate the corresponding code based on a set of code template files.

A generator class typically needs to implement the following methods:

  • getName(): returns the name of the generator
  • getDescription(): returns the detailed description of the generator
  • generate(): generates the code based on the current user input and the specified code template files. This is the place where main code generation code resides.

Public Properties

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PropertyTypeDescriptionDefined By
$activeValidators yii\validators\Validator[] The validators applicable to the current $scenario. This property is read-only. yii\base\Model
$attributes array Attribute values (name => value). yii\base\Model
$behaviors yii\base\Behavior[] List of behaviors attached to this component. This property is read-only. yii\base\Component
$description string The detailed description of the generator. This property is read-only. yii\gii\Generator
$enableI18N boolean Whether the strings will be generated using Yii::t() or normal strings. yii\gii\Generator
$errors array An array of errors for all attributes. Empty array is returned if no error. The result is a two-dimensional array. See getErrors() for detailed description. This property is read-only. yii\base\Model
$firstErrors array The first errors. The array keys are the attribute names, and the array values are the corresponding error messages. An empty array will be returned if there is no error. This property is read-only. yii\base\Model
$iterator ArrayIterator An iterator for traversing the items in the list. This property is read-only. yii\base\Model
$messageCategory string The message category used by Yii::t() when $enableI18N is true. yii\gii\Generator
$name string Name of the code generator yii\gii\Generator
$scenario string The scenario that this model is in. Defaults to SCENARIO_DEFAULT. yii\base\Model
$stickyDataFile string The file path that stores the sticky attribute values. This property is read-only. yii\gii\Generator
$template string The name of the code template that the user has selected. yii\gii\Generator
$templatePath string The root path of the template files that are currently being used. This property is read-only. yii\gii\Generator
$templates array A list of available code templates. yii\gii\Generator
$validators ArrayObject|yii\validators\Validator[] All the validators declared in the model. This property is read-only. yii\base\Model

Public Methods

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MethodDescriptionDefined By
__call() Calls the named method which is not a class method. yii\base\BaseObject
__clone() This method is called after the object is created by cloning an existing one. yii\base\Component
__construct() Constructor. yii\base\BaseObject
__get() Returns the value of an object property. yii\base\BaseObject
__isset() Checks if a property is set, i.e. defined and not null. yii\base\BaseObject
__set() Sets value of an object property. yii\base\BaseObject
__unset() Sets an object property to null. yii\base\BaseObject
activeAttributes() Returns the attribute names that are subject to validation in the current scenario. yii\base\Model
addError() Adds a new error to the specified attribute. yii\base\Model
addErrors() Adds a list of errors. yii\base\Model
afterValidate() This method is invoked after validation ends. yii\base\Model
attachBehavior() Attaches a behavior to this component. yii\base\Component
attachBehaviors() Attaches a list of behaviors to the component. yii\base\Component
attributeHints() Returns the attribute hints. yii\base\Model
attributeLabels() Returns the attribute labels. yii\gii\Generator
attributes() Returns the list of attribute names. yii\base\Model
autoCompleteData() Returns the list of auto complete values. yii\gii\Generator
beforeValidate() This method is invoked before validation starts. yii\base\Model
behaviors() Returns a list of behaviors that this component should behave as. yii\base\Component
canGetProperty() Returns a value indicating whether a property can be read. yii\base\BaseObject
canSetProperty() Returns a value indicating whether a property can be set. yii\base\BaseObject
className() Returns the fully qualified name of this class. yii\base\BaseObject
clearErrors() Removes errors for all attributes or a single attribute. yii\base\Model
createValidators() Creates validator objects based on the validation rules specified in rules(). yii\base\Model
defaultTemplate() Returns the root path to the default code template files. yii\gii\Generator
detachBehavior() Detaches a behavior from the component. yii\base\Component
detachBehaviors() Detaches all behaviors from the component. yii\base\Component
ensureBehaviors() Makes sure that the behaviors declared in behaviors() are attached to this component. yii\base\Component
extraFields() Returns the list of fields that can be expanded further and returned by toArray(). yii\base\ArrayableTrait
fields() Returns the list of fields that should be returned by default by toArray() when no specific fields are specified. yii\base\ArrayableTrait
formName() Returns the form name that this model class should use. yii\base\Model
formView() Returns the view file for the input form of the generator. yii\gii\Generator
generate() Generates the code based on the current user input and the specified code template files. yii\gii\Generator
generateAttributeLabel() Generates a user friendly attribute label based on the give attribute name. yii\base\Model
generateString() Generates a string depending on enableI18N property yii\gii\Generator
getActiveValidators() Returns the validators applicable to the current $scenario. yii\base\Model
getAttributeHint() Returns the text hint for the specified attribute. yii\base\Model
getAttributeLabel() Returns the text label for the specified attribute. yii\base\Model
getAttributes() Returns attribute values. yii\base\Model
getBehavior() Returns the named behavior object. yii\base\Component
getBehaviors() Returns all behaviors attached to this component. yii\base\Component
getDescription() yii\gii\Generator
getErrorSummary() Returns the errors for all attributes as a one-dimensional array. yii\base\Model
getErrors() Returns the errors for all attributes or a single attribute. yii\base\Model
getFirstError() Returns the first error of the specified attribute. yii\base\Model
getFirstErrors() Returns the first error of every attribute in the model. yii\base\Model
getIterator() Returns an iterator for traversing the attributes in the model. yii\base\Model
getName() yii\gii\Generator
getScenario() Returns the scenario that this model is used in. yii\base\Model
getStickyDataFile() yii\gii\Generator
getTemplatePath() yii\gii\Generator
getValidators() Returns all the validators declared in rules(). yii\base\Model
hasErrors() Returns a value indicating whether there is any validation error. yii\base\Model
hasEventHandlers() Returns a value indicating whether there is any handler attached to the named event. yii\base\Component
hasMethod() Returns a value indicating whether a method is defined. yii\base\BaseObject
hasProperty() Returns a value indicating whether a property is defined. yii\base\BaseObject
hints() Returns the list of hint messages. yii\gii\Generator
init() Initializes the object. yii\gii\Generator
instance() Returns static class instance, which can be used to obtain meta information. yii\base\StaticInstanceTrait
isAttributeActive() Returns a value indicating whether the attribute is active in the current scenario. yii\base\Model
isAttributeRequired() Returns a value indicating whether the attribute is required. yii\base\Model
isAttributeSafe() Returns a value indicating whether the attribute is safe for massive assignments. yii\base\Model
isReservedKeyword() yii\gii\Generator
load() Populates the model with input data. yii\base\Model
loadMultiple() Populates a set of models with the data from end user. yii\base\Model
loadStickyAttributes() Loads sticky attributes from an internal file and populates them into the generator. yii\gii\Generator
off() Detaches an existing event handler from this component. yii\base\Component
offsetExists() Returns whether there is an element at the specified offset. yii\base\Model
offsetGet() Returns the element at the specified offset. yii\base\Model
offsetSet() Sets the element at the specified offset. yii\base\Model
offsetUnset() Sets the element value at the specified offset to null. yii\base\Model
on() Attaches an event handler to an event. yii\base\Component
onUnsafeAttribute() This method is invoked when an unsafe attribute is being massively assigned. yii\base\Model
render() Generates code using the specified code template and parameters. yii\gii\Generator
requiredTemplates() Returns a list of code template files that are required. yii\gii\Generator
rules() Returns the validation rules for attributes. yii\gii\Generator
safeAttributes() Returns the attribute names that are safe to be massively assigned in the current scenario. yii\base\Model
save() Saves the generated code into files. yii\gii\Generator
saveStickyAttributes() Saves sticky attributes into an internal file. yii\gii\Generator
scenarios() Returns a list of scenarios and the corresponding active attributes. yii\base\Model
setAttributes() Sets the attribute values in a massive way. yii\base\Model
setScenario() Sets the scenario for the model. yii\base\Model
stickyAttributes() Returns the list of sticky attributes. yii\gii\Generator
successMessage() Returns the message to be displayed when the newly generated code is saved successfully. yii\gii\Generator
toArray() Converts the model into an array. yii\base\ArrayableTrait
trigger() Triggers an event. yii\base\Component
validate() Performs the data validation. yii\base\Model
validateClass() An inline validator that checks if the attribute value refers to an existing class name. yii\gii\Generator
validateMessageCategory() Checks if message category is not empty when I18N is enabled. yii\gii\Generator
validateMultiple() Validates multiple models. yii\base\Model
validateNewClass() An inline validator that checks if the attribute value refers to a valid namespaced class name. yii\gii\Generator
validateTemplate() Validates the template selection. yii\gii\Generator

Protected Methods

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MethodDescriptionDefined By
extractFieldsFor() Extract nested fields from a fields collection for a given root field Nested fields are separated with dots (.). e.g: "item.id" The previous example would extract "id". yii\base\ArrayableTrait
extractRootFields() Extracts the root field names from nested fields. yii\base\ArrayableTrait
resolveFields() Determines which fields can be returned by toArray(). yii\base\ArrayableTrait

Events

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EventTypeDescriptionDefined By
EVENT_AFTER_VALIDATE yii\base\Event An event raised at the end of validate() yii\base\Model
EVENT_BEFORE_VALIDATE yii\base\ModelEvent An event raised at the beginning of validate(). yii\base\Model

Constants

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ConstantValueDescriptionDefined By
SCENARIO_DEFAULT 'default' The name of the default scenario. yii\base\Model

Property Details

$description public property

The detailed description of the generator. This property is read-only.

public string $description null
$enableI18N public property

Whether the strings will be generated using Yii::t() or normal strings.

public boolean $enableI18N false
$messageCategory public property

The message category used by Yii::t() when $enableI18N is true. Defaults to app.

public string $messageCategory 'app'
$name public read-only property

Name of the code generator

public abstract string getName ( )
$stickyDataFile public property

The file path that stores the sticky attribute values. This property is read-only.

public string $stickyDataFile null
$template public property

The name of the code template that the user has selected. The value of this property is internally managed by this class.

public string $template 'default'
$templatePath public property

The root path of the template files that are currently being used. This property is read-only.

public string $templatePath null
$templates public property

A list of available code templates. The array keys are the template names, and the array values are the corresponding template paths or path aliases.

public array $templates = []

Method Details

attributeLabels() public method

Returns the attribute labels.

Attribute labels are mainly used for display purpose. For example, given an attribute firstName, we can declare a label First Name which is more user-friendly and can be displayed to end users.

By default an attribute label is generated using generateAttributeLabel(). This method allows you to explicitly specify attribute labels.

Note, in order to inherit labels defined in the parent class, a child class needs to merge the parent labels with child labels using functions such as array_merge().

public array attributeLabels ( )
return array

Attribute labels (name => label)

autoCompleteData() public method

Returns the list of auto complete values.

The array keys are the attribute names, and the array values are the corresponding auto complete values. Auto complete values can also be callable typed in order one want to make postponed data generation.

public array autoCompleteData ( )
return array

The list of auto complete values

defaultTemplate() public method

Returns the root path to the default code template files.

The default implementation will return the "templates" subdirectory of the directory containing the generator class file.

public string defaultTemplate ( )
return string

The root path to the default code template files.

formView() public method

Returns the view file for the input form of the generator.

The default implementation will return the "form.php" file under the directory that contains the generator class file.

public string formView ( )
return string

The view file for the input form of the generator.

generate() public abstract method

Generates the code based on the current user input and the specified code template files.

This is the main method that child classes should implement. Please refer to yii\gii\generators\controller\Generator::generate() as an example on how to implement this method.

public abstract yii\gii\CodeFile[] generate ( )
return yii\gii\CodeFile[]

A list of code files to be created.

generateString() public method

Generates a string depending on enableI18N property

public string generateString ( $string '', $placeholders = [] )
$string string

The text be generated

$placeholders array

The placeholders to use by Yii::t()

getDescription() public method

public string getDescription ( )
return string

The detailed description of the generator.

getName() public abstract method

public abstract string getName ( )
return string

Name of the code generator

getStickyDataFile() public method

public string getStickyDataFile ( )
return string

The file path that stores the sticky attribute values.

getTemplatePath() public method

public string getTemplatePath ( )
return string

The root path of the template files that are currently being used.

throws yii\base\InvalidConfigException

if $template is invalid

hints() public method

Returns the list of hint messages.

The array keys are the attribute names, and the array values are the corresponding hint messages. Hint messages will be displayed to end users when they are filling the form for the generator.

public array hints ( )
return array

The list of hint messages

init() public method

Initializes the object.

This method is invoked at the end of the constructor after the object is initialized with the given configuration.

public void init ( )
isReservedKeyword() public method

public boolean isReservedKeyword ( $value )
$value string

The attribute to be validated

return boolean

Whether the value is a reserved PHP keyword.

loadStickyAttributes() public method

Loads sticky attributes from an internal file and populates them into the generator.

public void loadStickyAttributes ( )
render() public method

Generates code using the specified code template and parameters.

Note that the code template will be used as a PHP file.

public string render ( $template, $params = [] )
$template string

The code template file. This must be specified as a file path relative to $templatePath.

$params array

List of parameters to be passed to the template file.

return string

The generated code

requiredTemplates() public method

Returns a list of code template files that are required.

Derived classes usually should override this method if they require the existence of certain template files.

public array requiredTemplates ( )
return array

List of code template files that are required. They should be file paths relative to $templatePath.

rules() public method

Returns the validation rules for attributes.

Child classes should override this method like the following so that the parent rules are included:

return array_merge(parent::rules(), [
    ...rules for the child class...
]);

Validation rules are used by validate() to check if attribute values are valid. Child classes may override this method to declare different validation rules.

Each rule is an array with the following structure:

[
    ['attribute1', 'attribute2'],
    'validator type',
    'on' => ['scenario1', 'scenario2'],
    //...other parameters...
]

where

  • attribute list: required, specifies the attributes array to be validated, for single attribute you can pass a string;
  • validator type: required, specifies the validator to be used. It can be a built-in validator name, a method name of the model class, an anonymous function, or a validator class name.
  • on: optional, specifies the scenarios array in which the validation rule can be applied. If this option is not set, the rule will apply to all scenarios.
  • additional name-value pairs can be specified to initialize the corresponding validator properties. Please refer to individual validator class API for possible properties.

A validator can be either an object of a class extending yii\validators\Validator, or a model class method (called inline validator) that has the following signature:

// $params refers to validation parameters given in the rule
function validatorName($attribute, $params)

In the above $attribute refers to the attribute currently being validated while $params contains an array of validator configuration options such as max in case of string validator. The value of the attribute currently being validated can be accessed as $this->$attribute. Note the $ before attribute; this is taking the value of the variable $attribute and using it as the name of the property to access.

Yii also provides a set of built-in validators. Each one has an alias name which can be used when specifying a validation rule.

Below are some examples:

[
    // built-in "required" validator
    [['username', 'password'], 'required'],
    // built-in "string" validator customized with "min" and "max" properties
    ['username', 'string', 'min' => 3, 'max' => 12],
    // built-in "compare" validator that is used in "register" scenario only
    ['password', 'compare', 'compareAttribute' => 'password2', 'on' => 'register'],
    // an inline validator defined via the "authenticate()" method in the model class
    ['password', 'authenticate', 'on' => 'login'],
    // a validator of class "DateRangeValidator"
    ['dateRange', 'DateRangeValidator'],
];

Note, in order to inherit rules defined in the parent class, a child class needs to merge the parent rules with child rules using functions such as array_merge().

public array rules ( )
return array

Validation rules

save() public method

Saves the generated code into files.

public boolean save ( $files, $answers, &$results )
$files yii\gii\CodeFile[]

The code files to be saved

$answers array
$results string

This parameter receives a value from this method indicating the log messages generated while saving the code files.

return boolean

Whether files are successfully saved without any error.

saveStickyAttributes() public method

Saves sticky attributes into an internal file.

public void saveStickyAttributes ( )
stickyAttributes() public method

Returns the list of sticky attributes.

A sticky attribute will remember its value and will initialize the attribute with this value when the generator is restarted.

public array stickyAttributes ( )
return array

List of sticky attributes

successMessage() public method

Returns the message to be displayed when the newly generated code is saved successfully.

Child classes may override this method to customize the message.

public string successMessage ( )
return string

The message to be displayed when the newly generated code is saved successfully.

validateClass() public method

An inline validator that checks if the attribute value refers to an existing class name.

If the extends option is specified, it will also check if the class is a child class of the class represented by the extends option.

public void validateClass ( $attribute, $params )
$attribute string

The attribute being validated

$params array

The validation options

validateMessageCategory() public method

Checks if message category is not empty when I18N is enabled.

public void validateMessageCategory ( )
validateNewClass() public method

An inline validator that checks if the attribute value refers to a valid namespaced class name.

The validator will check if the directory containing the new class file exist or not.

public void validateNewClass ( $attribute, $params )
$attribute string

The attribute being validated

$params array

The validation options

validateTemplate() public method

Validates the template selection.

This method validates whether the user selects an existing template and the template contains all required template files as specified in requiredTemplates().

public void validateTemplate ( )