Introduction to Block and Template in Magento

This blog is not the authors original, instead his notes on the key steps in playing with blocks and templates.

Objective: To create a block that will call a template and will be displayed on the home page.

Steps:
1.) Create a namespace inside the local directory, ex. Kalidad.

2.) Create another folder inside the Kalidad, ex Candles.
*this makes local/Kalidad/Candles.
*Candles is a module

3.) Inside the Candles there are a number of predefined subdirectory that can be created. We will create the minumum for this tutorial.
Let us create:
Kalidad/Candles/Block - module blocks
Kalidad/Candles/etc - where configuration files are stored

4. Then create the configuration file inside etc. Let's name it config.xml.


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<config>
<modules>
<Kalidad_Candles>
<version>0.1.0</version>
</Kalidad_Candles>
</modules>
<global>
<blocks>
<Kalidad_Candles>
<class>Kalidad_Candles_Block</class>
</Kalidad_Candles>
</blocks>
</global>
</config>


Tags that requires special attention:
a.) blocks should be place inside the global tag, or it will not be read
b.) specify the class, take note: Kalidad_Candles_Block - _ is replaced by / which correspond to its directory

5.) Create a file named Price.php inside Block, insert the below codes:

<?php
class Kalidad_Candles_Block_Price extends Mage_Core_Block_Template {
public function getPrice() {
$msg = "showPrice";
return $msg;
}
}
?>


*This is our block, which we will call in our template to display a text.

6.) Define a template inside the selected theme: app/design/frontend/default/default/template/ (assuming we used the default template).
The folder will be name kalidad: app/design/frontend/default/default/template/kalidad

7.) Inside the kalidad template, create a file named price.phtml and insert the following code:

<h1>Kalidad Price</h1>
<?php echo $this->getPrice(); ?>



8.) Now, we need to create a configuration that will notify the magento of our newly created module.
Inside app/etc/modules, create Kalidad_Candles.xml <- code="" codes:="" ff="" insert="" is="" module.="" our="" the="" this="">
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<config>
<modules>
<Kalidad_Candles>
<version>0.1.0$lt;/version>
<active>true$lt;/active>
<depends>$lt;/depends>
<codePool>local$lt;/codePool>
</Kalidad_Candles>
</modules>
</config>



9.) For the changes to take effect clear the var/cache directory (delete everything - crucial), or inside magento;s admin System->Cache Management, disable all the items.

10.) If everything goes well, we should see our newly created module inside magento's System->Configuration->System.

11.) Change the home page. Goto magento's CMS->Manage Pages. Select Home Page and insert the following codes:

{{block type="Kalidad_Candles/price" template="kalidad/price.phtml"}}


That's it.