create working link to high-scores page in CakePhp 2.9

Question

I am working with CakePHP 2.9 on a math-quiz application. My status with CakePHP is 'beginner'.

I would like to create a link to a high-scores page in app/Layouts/default.ctp. Therefore, I edited the default link to the CakePHp website into

<li><a target="_blank" href=".<?php $this->Getscores->getscores();?>.">High scores</a></li> .

But as far as now, the only thing I observe when clicking the link is a redirection to the landing page, no stack trace or error messages available.

This is what I have done as sofar:

1. Create a controller named GetscoresController.php in the directory app/Controller/
2. Set class name in GetscoresController.php to GetscoresController
3. Created a public function getscores() inside the class GetscoresController To reduce complexity I only create a variable $myvar assigned to the value "hiscores" in this function: $myvar='hiscores'; $this->set(compact('myvar'); $myvar='hiscores'; $this->set(compact('myvar');

4. Created a getscores.ctp in app/View/Getscores/ with only the code <?php echo $this->myvar; ?> <?php echo $this->myvar; ?>

5. Created an extra route in app/Config/routes.php: Router::connect('/', array('controller' => 'getscores', 'action' => 'index', 'getscores'));

I am wondering why the steps I took, obviously were not satisfying to get the link working. Can anyone point me out what I have done wrong and help me to set the link correct?

Answer 1

Why not using html helper?

<li>
   <?= $this->Html->link('High scores', [
      'controller'=> 'Getscores', 
      'action' => 'getscores',
      $myvar // <-------------------
      ], 
      ['_target' => 'blank'] ); ?> 
</li>