public function open($method, $action = '', $attr = array())
    {
        // check if they wish to send a file
        // default to post method and add the enctype needed to send files
        $method = strtolower($method);
        if ($method === 'file') {
            $method = 'post';
            $attr['enctype'] = 'multipart/form-data';
        }

        if (! in_array($method, array('post', 'get'))) {
            $method = 'post';
        }

        $attr['method'] = $method;
        $attr['action'] = $action;

        return $this->Html->tag('form', $attr);
    }