How do I retrieve an ajax friendly phtml file?

Question

I have created a custom front end module that allows a user to go through a wizard like process. I would like to make this AJAX.

I am loading my layout block with the following

<batch_index_index>
    <reference name="content">
        <block type="batch/batch" name="batch" template="batch/batch.phtml"/>
    </reference>
</batch_index_index>

However the default template is being returned with that phtml file, how do I get magento to return just the contents of the phtml file?

Answer 1

try this:

<batch_index_index>
    <block type="batch/batch" name="root" template="batch/batch.phtml"/>
</batch_index_index>

Answer 2

Here's one module on Github which helps developer to work on Magento, with Ajax. It is also available on Magento Connect.

Answer 3

The alternative is, that you generate the block in the controller:

$block = $this->getLayout()->createBlock($name);
$this->getResponse()->setBody(json_encode($block->toHtml()));

edit added json_encode as suggested from @sparcksoft