Way to define cakephp inputDefaults at site level

Question

Is there a way to define options['inputDefaults'] at site level than that at each form

Answer 1

TLDR:

Paste the 2 chunks of code below in their respective spots, then change the $defaultOptions array to whatever you want - voila. It doesn't alter any of the FormHelper's functions except adds defaults to the Form->create's inputDefaults.

Explanation & Code:

You can extend the FormHelper (easier than it sounds) by making your own custom MyFormHelper:

<?php
//create this file called 'MyFormHelper.php' in your View/Helper folder
App::uses('FormHelper', 'View/Helper');
class MyFormHelper extends FormHelper {

    public function create($model = null, $options = array()) {
        $defaultOptions = array(
            'inputDefaults' => array(
                'div' => false,
                'label' => false
            )
        );      

        if(!empty($options['inputDefaults'])) {
            $options = array_merge($defaultOptions['inputDefaults'], $options['inputDefaults']);
        } else {
            $options = array_merge($defaultOptions, $options);
        }
        return parent::create($model, $options);
    }
}

Then, in your AppController, include the Form helper in the following way (if you already have a $helpers variable, just add 'Form' => ... to it):

public $helpers = array(
    'Form' => array(
        'className' => 'MyForm'
    )
);

This makes it so whenever you call $this->Form, it actually calls your custom 'MyFormHelper' - and the only thing it does is set the inputDefaults if they're not specified, then continue on to do the normal logic found in Cake's FormHelper.