In a new post today, Ben Ramsey continues on from some previous thoughts on a different sort of method for using the Views in the Zend Framework. This time, he focuses on a more automated way implement them in the same way.

Just as views can be automated—that is, you don't have to instantiate a Zend_View object; the controller does it all for you when you call $this->render() from any controller action—you do not have to explicitly tell Zend_View where your helpers reside, as the manual suggests. Instead, place your helpers in a special "helpers" folder where the Zend_Controller_Action’s initView() can find them.

He includes how the directory structure would be altered (the addition of the helpers folder) and how to name the helpers so they can be used in an application (Zend_View_Helper_*). Also, check out the post for some of his interesting thoughts on a recent visit of his to New York City.