This component is a conversion of the notifier plugin Bakkerij Git. Due to his incompatibility with the version 3.9 of CakePhp I decided to do a component-conversion that let him works on the latest versions of the framework. This component is a plug and play way to integrate a simple but functional notifications system to your project.

After unpacking the component and the Utility class you just need to set up the database. I made a simple Sql script that "makes your life easier", no migration at all.

Before sending any notification, we need to register a template. An example about how to add templates:

    $notificationManager->addTemplate('newPhoto', [
        'title' => 'New photo by :username',
        'body' => ':username has posted a new photo with desc: :"desc'
    ]);

When adding a new template, you have to add a title and a body. Both are able to contain variables like :username and :desc. Later on we will tell more about these variables.

Now we will be able to send a new notification using our newPhoto template.

    $notificationManager->notify([
        'users' => [1, 2],
        'recipientLists' => ['administrators'],
        'template' => 'newPhoto',
        'vars' => [
            'username' => 'Lorenzo Ceglia',
            'desc' => 'My summer fav place'
        ]
    ]);

Note: You are also able to send notifications via the component: $this->Notificatore->notify().

With the notify method we sent a new notification. A list of all attributes:

• users - This is an integer or array filled with id's of users to notify. So, when you want to notify user 261 and 373, add [261, 373].
• recipientLists - This is a string or array with lists of recipients. Further on you can find more about RecipientLists.
• template - The template you added, for example newBlog.
• vars - Variables to use. In the template newPhoto we used the variables username and desc. These variables can be defined here.

To send notifications to large groups you are able to use RecipientLists. You can register them with:

    $notificationManager->addRecipientList('administrators', [1,2,3,4]);

Now we have created a list of recipients called administrators.

This can be used later on when we send a new notification:

    $notificationManager->notify([
        'recipientLists' => ['administrators'],
    ]);

Now, the users 1, 2, 3 and 4 will receive a notification.

You can easily retrieve notifications via the getNotifications method. Some examples:

    // getting a list of all notifications of the current logged in user
    $this->Notificatore->getNotifications();

    // getting a list of all notifications of the user with id 2
    $this->Notificatore->getNotifications(2);
    
    // getting a list of all unread notifications
    $this->Notificatore->allNotificationList(2, true);

    // getting a list of all read notifications
    $this->Notificatore->allNotificationList(2, false);

Getting counts of read/unread notifications can be done via the countNotifications method. Some examples:

    // getting a number of all notifications of the current logged in user
    $this->Notificatore->countNotifications();

    // getting a number of all notifications of the user with id 2
    $this->Notificatore->countNotifications(2);
    
    // getting a number of all unread notifications
    $this->Notificatore->countNotificationList(2, true);

    // getting a number of all read notifications
    $this->Notificatore->countNotificationList(2, false);

To mark notifications as read, you can use the markAsRead method. Some examples:

    // mark a single notification as read
    $this->Notificatore->markAsRead(500;

    // mark all notifications of the given user as read
    $this->Notificatore->markAsRead(null, 2);

The following getters can be used at your notifications entity:

• title - The generated title including the variables.
• body - The generated body including the variables.
• unread - Boolean if the notification is not read yet.
• read - Boolean if the notification is read yet.

Example:

    // returns true or false
    $entity->get('unread');
    
    // returns the full output like 'Bob Mulder has posted a new blog named My Great New Post'
    $entity->get('body');

You can do something like this to use the notification list in your view:

    $this->set('notifications', $this->Notificatore->getNotifications());

The NotificationManager is the Manager of the plugin. You can get an instance with:

    NotificationManager::instance();

The manager has the following methods available:

• notify
• addRecipientList
• getRecipientList
• addTemplate
• getTemplate

    public function initialize()
    {
        parent::initialize();
        $this->loadComponent('Notificatore');
    }

The component has the following methods available:

• getNotifications
• countNotifications
• markAsRead
• notify