Magento – Content block not showing

blocksmodule

I'm trying to set up a custom block module and display it. For this question my namespace is V, module name W.
I've created global config file, V_All.xml, in app/etc/modules/

  <?xml version="1.0"?>
   <config>
    <modules>
     <V_W>
       <active>true</active>
       <codePool>local</codePool>
     </V_W>
    </modules>
   </config>

I've also created module config file, config.xml, in app/code/local/V/W/etc/

 <?xml version="1.0"?>
  <config>
   <modules>
     <V_W>
       <version>1.0</version>
     </V_W>
   </modules>

   <global>
    <blocks>
      <w>
        <class>V_W_Block</class>
      </w>
    </blocks>
   </global>
  </config>

I've created class file for custom block, Yblock.php, at: app/code/local/V/W/Block/Yblock.php

 <?php
  class V_W_Block_Yblock extends Mage_Core_Block_Template
  {  // Methods
  }
  ?>

I've created a template file, Yblock.phtml, to output custom block data in app/design/frontend/Mypackage/Mytheme/template/Z/Yblock.phtml. In it I have:

  <?php echo "Test Custom Block"; ?>

I've tried to display block via local.xml:

 <?xmlversion="1.0"encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <layoutversion="0.1.0">
     <default>
       <reference name="root">
         <reference name="content">
           <block type="w/yblock" name="yblock" template="z/yblock.phtml" before="-"/>
         </reference>
       </reference>
     </default>
   </layout>

However, nothing is displayed on browser. I've gone through my code and cannot find anything to alter. I wonder if anyone could point why "Test Custom Block" is not being displayed. I'll be grateful for all assistance.

Best Answer

The problem is resides in in you layout update xml file. You have your block defined like this.

<block type="w/yblock" name="yblock" template="z/yblock.phtml" before="-"/>

Here the template attribute is wrong. As per your template file name, it's value should beZ/Yblock.phtml instead of z/yblock.phtml. ie block attributes are case-sensitive.

The correct definition would be

<block type="w/yblock" name="yblock" template="Z/Yblock.phtml" before="-"/>

You can also resolve this problem by changing the file name to z/yblock.phtml.ie change the location of file like this : app/design/frontend/Mypackage/Mytheme/template/z/yblock.phtml

^{Note : Clear all cache after the changes made.}

Related Solutions

Magento 1 Module – Custom Block Methods Not Working

Did you update your layout xml block type? Does it work if you try:

<block type="morecategories/list" name="morecategories_list" template="PATH TO YOUR TEMPLATE"/>

Magento 1.8 Custom Block Module – How to Create

I find the whole XML thing difficult so I am sympathetic to your cause here.

It looks to me like there is a discrepancy with your class name and your block XML

class Crusader_CLHomePage_Block_Qwerty extends Mage_Core_Block_Template

and

    <block type="core/template" name="homepage" template="crusader/home.phtml">
        <block type="crusaderhome/qwerty" name="homeads" as="homeads" template="crusader/homeads.phtml" />
    </block>

Let's start with the block type and work backward. I think here I would expect to see something like

<block type="crusader_home/qwerty" ...

and that type would refer Magento to the class

Crusader_Home_Block_Qwerty extends Mage_Core_Block_Template

Continuing to work backward on this tack, the file app\code\local\Crusader\CLHomePage\etc\config.xml would need to be modified to something like

<global>
    <blocks>
        <crusader_home>
            <class>Crusader_Home_Block</class>
        </crusader_home>
    </blocks>
</global>

It points Magento to all classes starting 'Crusader_Home_Block_*'. And now I think you need to rename your module Crusader_Home instead of Crusader_CLHomePage and change the folder names accordingly...

AND / BUT I strongly recommend you change your module name. Only ever use one capital letter at the start of the module name not three and don't put capital letters in the middle of the name either.

You may want to look into some of the tools available for generating modules. I find them very useful for avoiding typing errors. I use this one by the very clever people at MGT Commerce (it has simplicity on its side) and this one is all-encompassing and an astonishing piece of coding by Silk Software.

***EDIT following comments below

Additionally based on the error log I think the problem is that Magento can't find your class file. So double-check the caches are refreshed or off, particularly XML cache, and that the compiler is off or re-enabled.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Magento 1 Module – Custom Block Methods Not Working

Magento 1.8 Custom Block Module – How to Create

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