Understanding the “module” (or extension)

Question

I've been able to study 5 Magento shops in the last weeks. And I've noticed a mess in module management.

I've seen 2 places where the modules/extensions appear:

• MagentoConnect page: where you can see the module name, description, version and you are able to uninstall or upgrade
• /app/etc/modules directory: where the main XML of the module appear

My questions about modules:

1) Why do I see some modules appearing in "etc" directory, but they don't appear in Magento Connect page ?

2) In that cases, how can I uninstall a module?

3) And how can I know which files are related with that module ?

Thank you !

Answer 1

1. Why do I see some modules appearing in "etc" directory, but they
   don't appear in MagentoConnect page ?

   A Magento Connect will contain Modules which packaged using standard packages of magento extension.

   Magento Connect doesn't know anything about the custom Modules that have been installed into your system without proper packaging.

2. In that cases, how can I uninstall a module?

   You can simply remove files or disable it from app/etc/modules

3. And how can I know which files are related with that module ?

   You can check everything from xml files.

   app/etc/modules/Namespace_Module.xml

which would be something like below

<?xml version="1.0"?>
    <config>
        <modules>
            <Namespace_Module>
                <active>true</active>
                <codePool>community</codePool>
            </Namespace_Module>
        </modules>
    </config>

You can find codepool from here that can be local/commuinty

Now in that codepool there will be config.xml for your module.

app/code/{{codepool}}/Namespace/Module/etc/config.xml

And you can all classes define here as well as front and back layout if any exits so you can also check related tempalte and css , js files

Answer 2

If you want to extend/Modify Any features in Magento then you need to crate a module.For publish your module publicly on Magento connect you need to System > Magento Connect > Package Extensions you can pack your module here.You can find all modules under this app/etc/modules folder. If you want to disable any module.

e.g. open any file from here ( app/etc/modules) you will see codes something like this:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
  <modules>
    <Arun_Athletes>
      <active>true</active>
      <codePool>local</codePool>
    </Arun_Athletes>
  </modules>
</config>

For disable it completelly just change it from <active>true</active> to <active>false</active>

Hope this will help you.

Answer 3

1. The module are installed from MagentoConnect page that will be shown in MagentoConnect page. but all the module are listed in etc/modules/ folder. For those modules are not listed these are manual. Pasted in main directory on magento folder the get installed.

2. MagentoConnect For that it is easy to unistall there is option for that. But the manual you have to remove every file related to module. For etc/modules you can disabled the extension by open the file in editor and make true to false

3. Mostly the module name are Spacename_Modulename.xml you will get the idea of that when you see the module name.