CakePHP Custom Helper not working - cakephp

Question

MY first time creating a custom helper. I'm getting an error in my Controller Code that I"m calling a a method on a non existed object (helper). Yet i believe my helper "BM" is being loaded successfully because i'm not getting any errors on loading helpers.
Error: Call to a member function mcpGetActiveMerchantID() on a non-object
File: C:\wamp\www\bm\app\Controller\MCPController.php
Line: 412
I have placed BMHelper.php into my View\Helper\ directory.
<?php
class BMHelper extends AppHelper{
public function mcpGetActiveMerchant(){
return $this->Session->read('Auth.ActiveMerchant');
}
public function mcpGetActiveMerchantID() {
$activemerchant = $this->Session->read('Auth.ActiveMerchant');
foreach($activemerchant as $key => $value) {
$merchant_id = $key;
}
return $merchant_id;
}
}
?>
Then in my Controller I have this:
<?php
class MCPController extends AppController {
public $helpers = array('Html', 'Form', 'Session','BM','Js' => array('Jquery'));
public function walkinadd() {
$test = $this->BM->mcpGetActiveMerchantID(); //Line 412
}
}
?>
HEre is the error again (same as the error I pasted at the top)
Error: Call to a member function mcpGetActiveMerchantID() on a non-object
File: C:\wamp\www\bm\app\Controller\MCPController.php
Line: 412
Anyone know what is wrong?

Answer 1

Helpers are to be used in Views not Controllers, though you could do:
public function walkinadd() {
$view = new View($this);
$bm = $view->loadHelper('BM');
$test = $bm->mcpGetActiveMerchantID();
}