1. 1. Code completion
2. 2. Code templates
3. 3. Testing
4. 4. Debugging
5. Got problems or questions?

This page is created to supply short directions and general tips for managing a Yii application in NetBeans IDE.

1. Code completion ¶

To get context sensitive code completion, follow these steps:

• If the Yii framework folder is not inside the project folder:
  • Open "File > Project properties > PHP Include Path" and add the Yii framework root path
• Ignore yiilite.php to avoid doubled/missing documentation
  • Open "Tools > Options > Miscellaneous > Files"
  • Add to the front of "Files Ignored by the IDE" the file "^(yiilite\.php|CVS|SCCS|...."
  • Restart NetBeans

Usage: ¶

• Typing suggestions: Ctrl-Space
• Show Function parameters: Ctrl-P
• Comment your own code with PHPDoc style. Here's a good example.
• Code completion in view files
  • Add the following PHPDoc statement at the head of the file to use code completion in view files. (you may add additional passed parameters as well)

/* @var $this PostController */
/* @var $model Post */
$this->getSomeProValue(); // possible with code completion
$model->author; // possible with code completion

2. Code templates ¶

You can create code templates for commonly used/overridden function in Yii. For example, if you want to add an beforeSave() function in your model, by typing a shortcut you can automatically have the function template in place. There are additional shortcuts for common stuff like Yii::app(), Yii::t(), Yii::app()->user->checkAccess(), and more!

• Download this template set to get started: http://fbe.am/hly (version 2). View all available commands in this printable cheat sheet.
• Go to "Tools > Options > Editor > Code Templates"
• Hit "Import", select the file, and choose "Code Templates"
  • You might get an error message "invalid zip file" if you are importing to a older/newer version of NetBeans. Open up the zip file, edit build.info, and set the correct path to Userdir.

Usage: ¶

• Type the shortcut and hit TAB
• More info: NetBeans Docs
• Example:

// typing: ybeforesave + TAB
// expands to:

/**
 * This method is invoked before saving a record (after validation, if any).
 * @return boolean whether the saving should be executed. Defaults to true.
 */
protected function beforeSave()
{
	
	return parent::beforeSave();
}

3. Testing ¶

To run functional tests and unit tests in Yii, recommended is installing PHPUnit and SeleniumRC.

• Install PHPUnit
  • Follow the official version 3.6 installation instructions.
  • Open "Tools > Options > PHP > Unit Testing" and set the correct path to the launch script. This is phpunit.bat in Windows and usually /usr/bin/phpunit in Linux.
• Install SeleniumRC with one of these two methods:
  • Through NetBeans plugins (may be outdated):
    • Open "Tools > Plugins > Available Plugins"
    • Install "Selenium Server"
    • Install "Selenium Module for PHP"
  • Through the Selenium website:
    • Download and execute "Selenium Server"
• Configure project options
  • Open "File > Project properties > Sources" and set "Test Folder" to [PROJECT ROOT]/protected/tests
  • Open "File > Project properties > PHPUnit" and set "Use Bootstrap" to [PROJECT ROOT]/protected/tests/bootstrap.php, and "Use XML Configuration" to [PROJECT ROOT]/protected/tests/phpunit.xml

Usage: ¶

• Test whole project: Alt+F6
• Test single file: Shift-F6
• Check code coverage (right click project > Code Coverage)

4. Debugging ¶

• Install Xdebug (usually already available in your installation):
  • Follow the official installation instructions.
• Include the Xdebug extension for PHP:
  • In php.ini enable (by removing ; prefix) these settings:

    zend_extension = "C:\xampp\php\ext\php_xdebug.dll"
       xdebug.remote_enable = 1
       xdebug.remote_handler = "dbgp"
       xdebug.remote_host = "localhost"
       xdebug.remote_port = 9000

Usage: ¶

• Debug project: Ctrl-F5
• Use breakpoints, walk through running code, and watch variables and objects in real-time. :)
• If you want to stop the debugger from pausing on the first line for every request, simply turn that "feature" off by clicking: Tools > Options > PHP > Debugging > Stop at First Line (uncheck)

5. Navigation, wizards, additional code completion ¶

Install a special Yii plugin.

Got problems or questions? ¶

Do NOT post a comment on this wiki page, but go to the forums: http://www.yiiframework.com/forum/index.php?/topic/11735-netbeans-ide-and-test-driven-development/