Magento – Replace root block in layout

blockslayout

In attempting to avoid rewriting the Mage_Checkout_Block_Onepage_Shipping_Method_Additional block, I've been following my current strategy of removing the block with the old class and adding a new one with my new class:

<checkout_onepage_shippingmethod>
  <remove name="root" />
  <block type="my_checkout/onepage_shipping_method_additional" name="my.root" as="root" output="toHtml" template="checkout/onepage/shipping_method/available.phtml" />
</checkout_onepage_shippingmethod>

This works great for non-root blocks, but my alias technique doesn't seem to work in this case. Any ideas?

PS: I'm aware that this can be done with a rewrite.

Best Answer

I can't believe, this is working.

<remove> is the last statement processed before toHtml. This means, there is NO WAY to have a block with the name root when you remove it.

Bu you can just change the type of root by overriding the block, like in <checkout_onepage_shippingmethod> in /app/design/frontend/base/default/layout/checkout.xml:373

<checkout_onepage_shippingmethod>
    <!-- Mage_Checkout -->
    <remove name="right"/>
    <remove name="left"/>

    <block type="checkout/onepage_shipping_method_available" name="root" output="toHtml" template="checkout/onepage/shipping_method/available.phtml"/>
</checkout_onepage_shippingmethod>

It is totally great, that you avoid rewrites!

Related Solutions

Magento 1.8 – Replace Block in Layout for Specific Page

Because unsetChild isn't working in this case, I suggest the nuclear option:

<checkout_cart_index>
    <remove name="checkout.cart.coupon"></remove>
</checkout_cart_index>

This will remove the block entirely. Not such a big deal because you'll immediately re-create it:

<checkout_cart_index>
    <remove name="checkout.cart.coupon"></remove>
    <reference name="checkout.cart">
        <block type="multicoupon/cart_coupon" name="checkout.cart.coupon" as="coupon" template="checkout/cart/coupon.phtml"/>
    </reference>
</checkout_cart_index>

Magento – XML Block Layout

You could do this without calling remove and then having to recreate each block. Simply use the unsetChild and insert actions, they will allow you to move blocks around. The following xml should give you your desired results.

<default>
    <reference name="left">
        <action method="unsetChild">
            <name>left.newsletter</name>
        </action>
    </reference>
    <reference name="footer">
        <action method="insert">
            <block>left.newsletter</block>
        </action>
    </reference>
</default>
<cms_index_index>
    <reference name="footer">
        <action method="unsetChild">
            <name>left.newsletter</name>
        </action>
    </reference>
    <reference name="content">
        <action method="insert">
            <block>left.newsletter</block>
        </action>
    </reference>
</cms_index_index>

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Magento 1.8 – Replace Block in Layout for Specific Page

Magento – XML Block Layout

Related Topic