How to include your own classes into models/controllers?

[eluser]silverback[/eluser]
Hi,

Lets say I have a class called Animal which I use to store data about animals.
How do I use this class in my controllers/models?

Do I make a new directory called classes, define it there, and then simply include('class.php') in my controllers and/or models?

I guess you could also make it a model, but then the problem becomes that you can only have one instance of it per controller/model (right?). What if I want an array of Animal objects?

Thanks

[eluser]skunkbad[/eluser]
[quote author="silverback" date="1270410120"]Hi,

Lets say I have a class called Animal which I use to store data about animals.
How do I use this class in my controllers/models?

Do I make a new directory called classes, define it there, and then simply include('class.php') in my controllers and/or models?

I guess you could also make it a model, but then the problem becomes that you can only have one instance of it per controller/model (right?). What if I want an array of Animal objects?

Thanks[/quote]

You could watch this video:
http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/php/co...+(NETTUTS)
and you will know everything you need to know. Well, I don't know about your last question... I'd assume you would have to create a new object for each instance of the class.

[eluser]silverback[/eluser]
Thanks for the link, it was a great video.

Unfortunately this still doesnt solve my problem. How would I work with many animals? I can create an Animal library now, but I can't load more than once instance per controller right?

[eluser]danmontgomery[/eluser]
Include your class file at the top of the controller file, then:

Code:

$this->giraffe = new Animal();
$this->zebra = new Animal();

or,

Code:

$giraffe = new Animal();
$zebra = new Animal();
$this->animals = array( 'zebra' => $zebra, 'giraffe' => $giraffe);