Difference Between and in Magento Layout

blockslayouttheme

What is the difference between <action method=”unsetChild”> and <remove name=""/>?

Both functions are used to remove a block from the layout.

Could someone explain with an example?

Best Answer

<remove name="" /> operates in the global block scope of Mage_Core_Model_Layout. These are collected in Mage_Core_Model_Layout::generateXml() and used to prevent the block with the specified name from even being instantiated. Also, any child blocks declared for a <remove />ed block will also not be instantiated.

<action method="" /> a.k.a Mage_Core_Block_Abstract::unsetChild() is a block-level method which de-lists the indicated child block (by alias, not by name) from the parent block instance on which the action is being called. This most often results in the block "disappearing" from the rendered output, even though the block instance is still created. Used in combination with the ::append() or ::insert() methods, it is used to perform a "move".

Related Solutions

Magento 1.8 – Difference Between getChildHtml and getBlockHtml

getBlockHtml('block_name_here') get's you the html of the block with name block_name_here if it finds it in the layout...anywhere.
getChildHtml('block_name_here') get's you the html of the block with name block_name_here only if that block is a child of the current block.

Here is an example. Consider the next layout section

<block type="core/template" template="some_template.phtml" name="some_name" />
<block type="core/template" template="some_other_template.phtml" name="some_other_name" />

Now in the template file some_template.phtml if you add this line of code <?php echo $this->getBlockHtml('some_other_name')?> you will get the html for the block some_other_name.
If you add <?php echo $this->getChildHtml('some_other_name')?> you will get nothing.

IN the following scenario

<block type="core/template" template="some_template.phtml" name="some_name">
    <block type="core/template" template="some_other_template.phtml" name="some_other_name" />
</block>

getChildHtml and getBlockHtml will get you the same thing. the html of the block some_other_name.

Difference Between catalog_category_default and catalog_category_view – Magento 1.8

catalog_category_view is loaded for all the category pages.
It's the default layout handler for the category page. The category page maps to the catalog module, category controller, view action.

catalog_category_default is loaded only for categories that are not marked as anchors.
There is also a layout handle called catalog_category_layered that is loaded for categories marked as anchor.

If you want to show a particular block for one single category, you can either make it as a static block and use the category display settings. Set the display mode as Static block and products and select the appropriate static block.
Or you can use the layout handle <CATEGORY_{ID_HERE}>. replace {ID_HERE} with the category id.
Also you can try to use the custom xml layout field in the category display settings in the backend.

[EDIT]
To use the category handle do this:
Let's say that you want to add a block for category with id 10.
Add this in the layout

<CATEGORY_10>
    <reference name="content"> 
        <block type="vendor/vendor" name="vendor" template="vendor/vendor.phtml" />     
    </reference>
</CATEGORY_10>

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Magento 1.8 – Difference Between getChildHtml and getBlockHtml

Difference Between catalog_category_default and catalog_category_view – Magento 1.8

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