CakePHP select default value in SELECT input

 $this->Form->input('Leaf.id', array(
'type'=>'select',
'label'=>'Leaf',
'options'=>$leafs,
'value'=>2
));

This will select default second index position value from list of option in $leafs.

You should never use select(), or text(), or radio() etc.; it's terrible practice. You should use input():

$form->input('tree_id', array('options' => $trees));

Then in the controller:

$this->data['Leaf']['tree_id'] = $id;

In CakePHP 1.3, use 'default'=>value to select the default value in a select input:

$this->Form->input('Leaf.id', array('type'=>'select', 'label'=>'Leaf', 'options'=>$leafs, 'default'=>'3'));

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