# CodeIgniter User Guide Version 2.1.2

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# Smiley Helper

The Smiley Helper file contains functions that let you manage smileys (emoticons).

## Loading this Helper

This helper is loaded using the following code:

`$this->load->helper('smiley');`

## Overview

The Smiley helper has a renderer that takes plain text simileys, like :-) and turns them into a image representation, like

It also lets you display a set of smiley images that when clicked will be inserted into a form field. For example, if you have a blog that allows user commenting you can show the smileys next to the comment form. Your users can click a desired smiley and with the help of some JavaScript it will be placed into the form field.

## Clickable Smileys Tutorial

Here is an example demonstrating how you might create a set of clickable smileys next to a form field. This example requires that you first download and install the smiley images, then create a controller and the View as described.

Important: Before you begin, please download the smiley images and put them in a publicly accessible place on your server. This helper also assumes you have the smiley replacement array located at application/config/smileys.php

### The Controller

In your application/controllers/ folder, create a file called `smileys.php` and place the code below in it.

Important: Change the URL in the get_clickable_smileys() function below so that it points to your smiley folder.

You'll notice that in addition to the smiley helper we are using the Table Class.

<?php class Smileys extends CI_Controller { function __construct() { parent::__construct(); } function index() { $this->load->helper('smiley'); $this->load->library('table'); $image_array = get_clickable_smileys('http://example.com/images/smileys/', 'comments'); $col_array = $this->table->make_columns($image_array, 8); $data['smiley_table'] = $this->table->generate($col_array); $this->load->view('smiley_view', $data); } } ?>

In your application/views/ folder, create a file called `smiley_view.php` and place this code in it:

<html> <head> <title>Smileys</title> <?php echo smiley_js(); ?> </head> <body> <form name="blog"> <textarea name="comments" id="comments" cols="40" rows="4"></textarea> </form> <p>Click to insert a smiley!</p> <?php echo $smiley_table; ?> </body> </html>

When you have created the above controller and view, load it by visiting http://www.example.com/index.php/smileys/

### Field Aliases

When making changes to a view it can be inconvenient to have the field id in the controller. To work around this, you can give your smiley links a generic name that will be tied to a specific id in your view.

`$image_array = get_smiley_links("http://example.com/images/smileys/", "comment_textarea_alias");`

To map the alias to the field id, pass them both into the smiley_js function:

`$image_array = smiley_js("comment_textarea_alias", "comments");`

# Function Reference

## get_clickable_smileys()

Returns an array containing your smiley images wrapped in a clickable link. You must supply the URL to your smiley folder and a field id or field alias.

`$image_array = get_smiley_links("http://example.com/images/smileys/", "comment");`

Note: Usage of this function without the second parameter, in combination with js_insert_smiley has been deprecated.

## smiley_js()

Generates the JavaScript that allows the images to be clicked and inserted into a form field. If you supplied an alias instead of an id when generating your smiley links, you need to pass the alias and corresponding form id into the function. This function is designed to be placed into the <head> area of your web page.

`<?php echo smiley_js(); ?>`

Note: This function replaces js_insert_smiley, which has been deprecated.

## parse_smileys()

Takes a string of text as input and replaces any contained plain text smileys into the image equivalent. The first parameter must contain your string, the second must contain the URL to your smiley folder:

`$str = 'Here are some simileys: :-) ;-)'; $str = parse_smileys($str, "http://example.com/images/smileys/"); echo $str;`