Added new component helper file

application/helpers/component_helper.php

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+<?php defined('BASEPATH') or exit('No direct script access allowed');
+
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Easy!Appointments - Open Source Web Scheduler
+ *
+ * @package     EasyAppointments
+ * @author      A.Tselegidis <alextselegidis@gmail.com>
+ * @copyright   Copyright (c) 2013 - 2020, Alex Tselegidis
+ * @license     http://opensource.org/licenses/GPL-3.0 - GPLv3
+ * @link        http://easyappointments.org
+ * @since       v1.4.0
+ * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+if ( ! function_exists('component'))
+{
+    /**
+     * Render a component from the "views/components/*.php" directory.
+     *
+     * Use this helper function to easily include components into your HTML markup.
+     *
+     * Any loaded template variables will also be available at the component template, but you may also specify
+     * additional values by adding values to the $params parameter.
+     *
+     * Example:
+     *
+     * echo component('timezones_dropdown', 'class"form-control"');
+     *
+     * @param string $component Component template file name.
+     * @param string $attributes HTML attributes for the parent component element.
+     * @param array $params Additional parameters for the component.
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    function component(string $component, string $attributes = '', array $params = []): string
+    {
+        /** @var EA_Controller $CI */
+        $CI = &get_instance();
+
+        $vars = array_merge($params, [
+            'attributes' => $attributes
+        ]);
+
+        return $CI->load->view('components/' . $component, $vars, TRUE);
+    }
+}