I'm creating a form select with codeigniter's form_dropdown function and I need to dynamically create the options array for that function. So what I need is this:

I'm getting the keys and values from database so how do I do that? What I've done before is something like this

but if I now give $data["news"] to the form_dropdown, all it will give me back is a selectbox with values of "Array" since my array is an array of arrays.

Where are you doing this? In your model, view or controller?

I do the following.

Controller - Use model to query db -

$data['options'] = $this->model->getOptions();

I then call the view. Then perform what you have in the view. This avoids the problem of an array in an array.

I do this in controller but did I understood you correctly that you do it like this


I know I could do it like this but somehow doesn't sound so good idea to me.

I find my way is easier to work with in the future. In my way you only need to look in two places. The model to edit the database query and the view to edit what is being displayed. If there is no data manipulation then I see no reason why the controller needs to put the data in an array. It creates an unnecessary extra step.

If you want to use CI's form functions... many of which don't give you a great deal of benefit. Then you need to provide a bit more clarity..



Why have you got 3 fields here?

Surely it should be.


Then when you pass the $news array to the dropdown function it will generate a drop down.

I solved the problem with your way and it now works perfectly although I have another codeigniter problem with forms usage but more on that in another thread.