Elements in cake php - cakephp

Question

i am using linux-mint os
i have to put a search form on front-end on my web's home page:
i have done something like this:
Model for my app:
var/www/project/app/model/search.php
<?php
class Search extends AppModel {
var $name = 'Search';
}
?>
My controller :
var/www/project/app/controller/searches_controller.php
<?php
class SearchesController extends AppController {
var $name = 'Searches';
var $helpers = array('Html', 'Form');
function search()
{
$this->layout = 'default';
return $searches = $this->Search->find('all');
}
}
?>
After following the above steps i have create an Element to show the form on my home page
My Element :
var/www/project/app/views/element/search.ctp
<?php
$searches = $this->requestAction('searches/search');
?>
<?php
echo $form->create('Search', array('controller'=>'searches',
'action' => 'search'));?>
<select name="search">
<option>------Select------</option>
<?php foreach($searches as $search) { ?>
<option value="<?php echo $search['Search']['id'];?>">
<?php echo $search['Search']['media'];?></option>
<?php } ?>
</select>
<?php echo $form->end('submit'); ?>
And i put code in my default.ctp like this :
<?php echo $this->element('search');?>
Having done all this, i tried to view my home page but it shows an error message:
Fatal error: Call to a member function create() on a non-object in
/var/www/Emedia/app/views/elements/search.ctp on line 4
Notice (8): Undefined variable: form [APP/views/elements/search.ctp, line 4]

Answer 1

The form should be:
//in your element
//remove echo $element->create... and use
echo $form->create('Search', array(
'id' => 'someform',
'url' => array(
'controller' => 'searches',
'action' => 'search')
)
);
//and form end
echo $form->end('submit'); //not $element->end('submit');

Answer 2

there shouldnt be any "return" - why are you doing that?
use "cake bake" if you are not yet familiar with how it works.
anyway, that should help:
$searches = $this->Search->find('all');
$this->set(compact('searches'));

Answer 3

If you are using CakePHP 2.x then I thinks you cant access FormHelper directly through variable $form
Try:
$this->Form->create('Search',array('action'=>'yourAction'));

Answer 4

echo $form->create('Search', array('controller'=>'searches',
'action' => 'search'));?>
instead of using :
echo $this->Form->create('Search', array('controller'=>'searches',
'action' => 'search'));?>
it will Resolve :
Fatal error: Call to a member function create() on a non-object in
/var/www/Emedia/app/views/elements/search.ctp on line 4