Magento 1 Module – Custom Block Methods Not Working

blocksmodule

I've created a custom module in Magento but the methods I have defined for my block are not working for some reason. I can create an instance of the block in a template and call the parent blocks methods but not the methods I have defined.

/app/code/local/MyCompany/Morecategories/Block/List.php

<?php
class MyCompany_Morecategories_Block_List extends Mage_Core_Block_Template
{

  public function getMoreCategories() {
    return 'More categories';
  }
}

Then in my template file, if I run $this->getMoreCategories() it returns null.

I've tried running get_class($this), and it returns MyCompany_Morecategories_Block_List.

I've also run get_class_methods($this) but it only returned the parent blocks methods.

I can't imagine why my methods are not working.

Edit: Here is my config.xml file for the module:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
  <modules>
    <MyCompany_Morecategories>
      <version>1.0.0</version>
    </MyCompany_Morecategories>
  </modules>
  <global>
    <blocks>
      <morecategories>
        <class>MyCompany_Morecategories_Block</class>
      </morecategories>
    </blocks>
  </global>
</config>

Edit 2: Here is the custom layout update xml code I have for the category

<reference name="content">
  <block type="morecategories/list" name="morecategories_list"   template="mycompany/catalog/category/more.phtml"/>
</reference>

Best Answer

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"/>

Related Solutions

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

ie

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.

Difference Between and in Magento Layout

append appends an existing block that is referenced by name, to a new parent. It can be used to move a block to another location or to duplicate it.

<block> always creates a new block.

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