Magento 1.9.x - Blocks not being displayed from local module

Question

I am creating a module to add some extra call to action buttons. I cannot get an output to display. I believe I am getting either the naming conventions or the file location (or both) wrong.

It may also be the way I am trying to insert the block. I dont want to modify the phtml files if I can avoid it.

As you can see from my files, I am trying a number of ways to get the anything to be output - with no luck.

The aim is to be able to add additional CTA buttons after Add to Cart - such as 'Request Samples'

File structure:

app
    Code
        local
            CompanyName
                CtaAttributes
                    Block -> CtaButtons.php
                    etc -> config.xml
    design
        frontend
            base
                default
                    layout->ctabuttons.xml
                    template
                        ctaattributes
                            catelog
                               product ->ctabuttons.phtml

config.xml

<config>

    ... includes Module and Resource

    <global>
      <blocks>
        <ctaattributes>
            <class>CompanyName_CtaAttributes_Block</class>
        </ctaattributes>
      </blocks>
    </global>

</config>

CtaButtons.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<layout version="0.1.0">
    <catalog_product_view>    
        <reference name="content">

                <block type="core/text_list" name="product.info.addtocart" before="addtocart" template="ctaattributes/catalog/product/ctabuttons.phtml"/>
                <action method="append">
                        <block>ctabuttons</block>
                </action>
        </reference>

        <reference name="product.info.addtocart">
            <block type="core/text_list" name="core-text"><action method="setText"><text><![CDATA[<div>Test</div>]]></text></action></block>
        </reference>
    </catalog_product_view>    
</layout>

ctabuttons.phtml

<?php
/**
*/
Mage::log(get_class($this));
echo 'this is my test';

CtaButtons.php

<?php

class CompanyName_CtaAttributes_Block_CtaButtons extends Mage_Core_Block_Template  {
    echo 'test';

}

Answer 1

I found a solution - it is in two parts.

1. I did not define an frontend->update path for my layout update. I inserted this after </global>

     <frontend>
       <layout>
           <updates>
               <ctaattributes>
                   <file>ctaattributes.xml</file>
               </ctaattributes>
           </updates>
       </layout>  
   </frontend>
   

Had I used local.xml, I dont believe this would have been required, but in my testing I thought I would change the file name to keep it separate.

2. You cannot use camel case in the Block Class Name

Originaly my class was CompanyName_CtaAttributes_Block_CtaButtons - with a corresponding file called CtaButtons.php.
Changing the name to CompanyName_CtaAttributes_Block_Ctabuttons and Ctabuttons.php has resolved the issue.

I don't know if it is the Class file in Block/Blockname.php or the layout xml file that has a problem.

I have tested this with CamelCase in the company name and module with no impact, it seems to be restricted to the Blockname class and file.

Answer 2

• The /Blocks/CtaButtons.xml in you file structure should be an php file.
• I don't see the module file which should be in /app/etc/modules
• You should have module Versioning in the config.xml

Answer 3

If you use the latest patch your blocks should also be allowed in the System->Permission->block

Answer 4

Hi you need to define block type first

From

<?xml version="1.0"?>

 <layout version="0.1.0">
     <catalog_product_view>    
         <reference name="content">

                 <block type="core/text_list" name="product.info.addtocart" before="addtocart" template="ctaattributes/catalog/product/ctabuttons.phtml"/>
                 <action method="append">
                         <block>ctabuttons</block>
                 </action>
         </reference>

         <reference name="product.info.addtocart">
             <block type="core/text_list" name="core-text"><action method="setText"><text><![CDATA[<div>Test</div>]]></text></action></block>
         </reference>
     </catalog_product_view>    
 </layout>

To

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<layout version="0.1.0">
    <catalog_product_view>    
        <reference name="product.info">
            <block type="core/text_list" name="product.info.ctaattributes" before="addtocart" template="ctaattributes/catalog/product/ctabuttons.phtml"/>
        </reference>
    </catalog_product_view>    
</layout>