title: CakePHP clarification on using set() and compact() together. Will only work w/ compact()
body: <p>I know compact() is a standard php function. And set() is a cake-specific method.</p>
  
  <p>I am running a simple test of passing a value to a view generated with ajax (user render() in my controller), and it only passes the value from the controller to the view if my setup is like so:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$variable_name_to_pass = "Passing to the view using set() can compact()";
  
  $this-&gt;set(compact('variable_name_to_pass'));
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>From reading the manual, it appears set() should work along w/out compact.</p>
  
  <p>Can anyone explain why set() will not work alone? Like</p>
  
  <pre><code>$this-&gt;set('variable_name_to_pass');
  </code></pre>