Why should I use theme() function in page.tpl.php? - drupal

Im working on my first site in drupal and I have also read some basics of theming and module development. Now I am creating (overriding stark theme) my own theme, i.e. page.tpl.php and there is an theme() function called for outputting main menu items:
<?php print theme('links__system_main_menu', array('links' => $main_menu, 'attributes' => array('id' => 'main-menu', 'class' => array('links', 'inline', 'clearfix')), 'heading' => t('Main menu'))); ?>
I roughly understand what this function is for, but why should I use it in this case? It would make sense if outputting data from module - to stylize that output by selected theme. But in this case everything I need is directly in $main_menu array and I can stylize it however I want, so what's the use for theme() function in page.tpl.php?

Why should I use theme() function in page.tpl.php?
You shouldn't.
To avoid calling theme() function in your page template, you can do this in your template.php:
/**
* Implements hook_preprocess_page().
*/
function yourtheme_preprocess_page(&$vars) {
$vars['main_menu'] = theme('links__system_main_menu', array('links' => $vars['main_menu'], 'attributes' => array('id' => 'main-menu', 'class' => array('links', 'inline', 'clearfix')), 'heading' => t('Main menu')));
}
And then simply print $main_menu; in your page.tpl.php.

The point of using theme('links__system_main_menu', ...) is to re-use the existing generic links theme implementation of the theme. The system_main_menu suffix (after the two _), allow you to provide a more specific implementation of the generic links. If you then override the page template for the front page (ie. page-front.tpl.php) and for nodes of a specific content, you don't have to duplicate your HTML code. Which make it easier to maintain since you won't have to duplicate changes to multiple files.

The point is that if you go trough drupal's theme system it gives a chance to other installed modules to do their changes - their hook functions will be called:
https://www.drupal.org/node/933976
In other words, if you don't do it "clean" way it may happen that some other's module feature won't work.

Related

'next_or_number' => 'next' not working - need to show only next/previous buttons in Wordpress pagination

I am trying to remove numbers from pagination links on a paginated Wordpress post to leave only next/previous buttons. I have the code as follows and it still does not work as required. If I set a display:none; css rule to the tags within the .paging p class this affects all links including the next/previous links as the links do not have a separate class to them.
<?php
wp_link_pages(array(
'before' => '<p class="paging" style="margin-bottom: 5em;">' . __(''),
'after' => '</p>',
'next_or_number' => 'next', # activate parameter overloading
'nextpagelink' => __('<span class="pagelink right">NEXT</span>'),
'previouspagelink' => __('<span class="pagelink left">PREVIOUS</span>'),
'pagelink' => '%',
'echo' => 1 )
); ?>
Here is an example of a post illustrating the problem: http://famtrav.staging.wpengine.com/destinations/uk/15-fun-things-july-2016/
Is there another way of me achieving the required result? I hope this makes sense. Many thanks.
I have now solved this. The problem was caused by conflicting code. Specifically the wp_link_pages function was being defined both in the themes functions.php file and in the post-template.php file within the /wp-includes/ folder with instructions in one incidence contradicting the other. I commented out the instructions in the functions.php file and altered the post-template.php file with the correct code and this solved the problem.

Drupal 7 not showing sub menu

i am new to drupal and creating custom theme, i am using Main Menu but it is now showing sub-pages, i am using following code to show.
print theme('links__system_main_menu', array('links' => $main_menu, 'attributes' => array('id' => 'main-menu', 'class' => array('links', 'inline', 'clearfix', 'main-menu'))));
Please let me know what to do ?
thanks in advance.
Using this method will not render the sub items of a menu item. In order to have a menu with multiple levels you can either:
Use the available Main menu block available under admin/structure/block
Change the $main_menu variable passed to the template by using a preprocess function
In template.php of your theme:
function YOURTHEME_process_page(&$variables) {
$menu_tree = menu_tree_all_data('main-menu');
$variables['main_menu'] = menu_tree_output($menu_tree);
}
In your template file (page.tpl.php)
<?php print render($main_menu); ?>

How does hook_theme() work?

I am having a hard time understanding what hook_theme() does.
My understanding is that it has something to do with making it possible to override templates.
I was looking at:
$theme_hooks = array(
'poll_vote' => array(
'template' => 'poll-vote',
'render element' => 'form',
),
'poll_choices' => array(
'render element' => 'form',
),
'poll_results' => array(
'template' => 'poll-results',
'variables' => array('raw_title' => NULL, 'results' => NULL, 'votes' => NULL, 'raw_links' => NULL, 'block' => NULL, 'nid' => NULL, 'vote' => NULL),
),
'poll_bar' => array(
'template' => 'poll-bar',
'variables' => array('title' => NULL, 'votes' => NULL, 'total_votes' => NULL, 'vote' => NULL, 'block' => NULL),
),
);
Could you provide an example of how it works?
It provides a place for a module to define its themes, which can then be overridden by any other module/theme. It will also provide the opportunity for any module to use a hook such as mymodule_preprocess_theme_name to change the variables passed to the eventual theme function or template file.
There are basically two ways to initialise a theme function:
theme('poll_results', array('raw_title' => 'title', 'results' => $results, etc...));
and
$build = array(
'#theme' => 'poll_results',
'#raw_title' => 'title',
'#results' => $results,
etc...
); // Note the '#' at the beginning of the argument name, this tells Drupal's `render` function that this is an argument, not a child element that needs to be rendered.
$content = render($build); // Exact equivalent of calling the previous example now that you have a render array.
Please keep in mind, you should avoid calling theme() directly (per the documentation in theme.inc) since it:
Circumvents caching.
Circumvents defaults of types defined in hook_element_info(), including attached assets
Circumvents the pre_render and post_render stages.
Circumvents JavaScript states information.
In Drupal 8, theme() is a private function, _theme(). For more detail, please see www.drupal.org/node/2173655.
When you compare the two of these to the poll_results element in the example you give above you can probably work out what's happening...since PHP is not a strongly typed language Drupal is providing 'named arguments' through either a keyed array passed to the theme function, or as hashed keys in a render array.
As far as 'render element' is concerned, this basically tells the theme system that this theme function will be called using a render array, with one named argument (in this case form). The code would look something like this:
$build = array(
'#theme' => 'poll_choices',
'#form' => $form
);
This will pass whatever's in the $form variable to the theme function as it's sole argument.
Regarding the template key:
'poll_vote' => array(
'template' => 'poll-vote',
'render element' => 'form',
)
defines a theme called poll_vote which uses a template file (hence the template key) with a name of 'poll-vote.tpl.php' (this is by convention). The path to that template file will be found by using the path to the module that implements it (e.g. modules/poll/poll-vote.tpl.php), so it's fine to put template files in sub-folders of the main module folder.
There are two ways to actually return the output for a theme function, by implementing the physical function name (in this case it would be theme_poll_vote) or by using a template file. If the template key is empty Drupal will assume you've implemented a physical function and will try to call it.
Template files are preferable if you have a fair bit of HTML to output for a theme, or you simply don't like writing HTML in strings inside PHP (personally I don't). In either case though, the variables passed when you call the theme (either using theme() or a render array as described above) are themselves passed through to the template file or theme function. So:
function theme_poll_results(&$vars) {
$raw_title = $vars['raw_title'];
$results = $vars['results'];
// etc...
}
If you were using a template file instead for the same method the variables would be available as $raw_title, $results, etc, as Drupal runs extract on the $vars before parsing the template file.
I'm sure there's a lot I've missed out here but if you have any more specific questions ask away and I'll try to help out.
Drupal 6
I was stuck all day with this and now successfully implemented, so sharing my finding here, may it will help understand hook_theme.
There are 3 steps involved:
hook_theme
function YOURMODULENAME_theme() {
return array(
'xxx_xxx' => array(
'template' => 'xxx-xxx', // define xxx-xxx.tpl.php inside module
'arguments' => array('xxx' => null), //define $xxx so it will available in your xxx-xxx.tpl.php
),
);
}
echo/return the theme in your .tpl or any .module
$output = theme('xxx_xxx', $xxx);
Now variable are magically available in you xxx-xxx.tpl.php.
<?php echo $xxx ?>
Note: you can pass $xxx as array,object or anything :)
There is yet another way: (can be found in Bartik theme)
The scenario here is that we have created our own module and want to override the default output for let's say a node with title 'zzz' only.We don't know and don't really care how the default output is generated. All we need is to tell Drupal to use our own custom template file (node--custom--name.tpl.php) to render that specific node.
These are the steps:
Tell Drupal where our template file lives. (Keep in mind that this function will take effect only once and after clearing Drupal's cache):
// Implements hook_theme()
function mymodulename_theme() {
$theme = array();
$theme['node__custom__name'] = array(
'render element' => 'node',
'template' => 'path_from_mymodule_root/node__custom__name',
);
return $theme;
}
Tell Drupal where and when to use it
//Implements hook_preprocess_node()
function mymodulename_preprocess_node($vars) {
if($vars['node']->title == 'zzzz') {
$vars['theme_hook_suggestions'][] = 'node__custom__name';
... your other code ...
}
}
Now Drupal will use our template file for that specific case only, provided that 'node--custom--name.tpl.php' file is in the declared path, otherwise it will keep searching according to the suggestions naming conventions for a fallback template.

Help for custom menu

Drupal 7 hook_menu() is confusing me; I have tried everything and I can't seem to get this to work.
What I need: In a custom module, I'd like to create a new menu, and add about four links to that menu. It sounds simple, but I am struggling. I've been able to create the menu itself using the $menu array in the .install file, but adding items to that menu doesn't make sense.
Code that is working:
$menu = array(
'menu_name' => 'project-menu',
'title' => $t('Project Menu'),
'description' => 'Project Menu',
);
menu_save($menu);
Code that isn't working:
$items = array();
$items['project-menu/%'] = array(
'title' => 'Test Link',
'page callback' => 'dc_project_page',
'page arguments' => array(1),
'access callback' => TRUE,
'type' => MENU_LOCAL_TASK,
);
return $items;
This is all in the dc_project.install file under the dc_project_menu() function. Hopefully I'm just doing something stupid, any and all help is extremely appreciated. Even just pointing to me to a module that does this cleanly as an example, thanks. I did look at the example project, haven't been able to get anything as far as adding links to my new menu working.
Passing to menu_save() the content of $items doesn't work because menu_save() accepts only an array containing menu_name, title, and description.
What you use in $items is an array describing the menu callbacks implemented by a module, and the definitions of the menu callbacks implemented by all the modules are not saved in "menu_custom" (the table used from menu_save()) but are cached in a Drupal cache table.
If you are trying to change the menu callbacks defined by another module, then you should implement hook_menu_alter(); otherwise, if you just want do define the menu callbacks of your module, you should implement hook_menu().
Both the hooks implementations (hook_menu() and hook_menu_alter()) must be in the module file (in your case, in dc_project.module), not in dc_project.install. Drupal doesn't load the installation file when it normally loads the enabled modules; it loads the installation file when a module is being updated (or installed), but it doesn't load it in other cases.
The code that saves the menu with menu_save() can be in the installation file, in the implementation of hook_install() or hook_update_N(). It could also be put in the implementation of hook_enable(); in that case, the code (which is executed when the module is enabled) should first verify the menu has not been already added. (hook_enable() and hook_disable() should be placed in the installation file.)

Overriding the user registration form in Drupal 6

I want to be able to customise the user registration form in Drupal 6
I have found thousands of tutorials that show me how to override the structure in which you can output the form as a whole, but I want to move form elements around etc and I cant quite seem to see the best way to do this
To expand on Jeremy's answer, you're going to want to study Drupal's Form API and user_register(). In short, you build an associated array; each element in the array corresponds to one form element.
Each form element in the array is its own associated array. They can have a type: textfield, select menu, checkboxes, etc.: see the Form API reference for all the types.
Each form element can also have a weight: this is how you order elements around. Lower numbered weights show up before higher numbered weights in the form.
One of the element types available to you is fieldset: this is what will allow you to group elements together. When you use a fieldset, it creates a section of the form with its own weight values.
So, let's say you have a form with three fields: Name, Company, and E-mail address. The Name should show up first, Company second, E-mail address third. You could specify the form like so:
$form['name'] = array(
'#type' => 'textfield',
'#title' => t('Name'),
'#weight' => 1,
);
$form['company'] = array(
'#type' => 'textfield',
'#title' => t('Company'),
'#weight' => 2,
);
$form['email'] = array(
'#type' => 'textfield',
'#title' => t('E-mail address'),
'#weight' => 3,
);
Note the #weight key. If you wanted Company to appear after E-mail address, you'd set $form['company']['#weight'] to something higher than 3.
Now let's say you wanted to group Name and Company into a fieldset called Personal Information. Your form would now look something like this:
$form['personal'] = array(
'#type' => 'fieldset',
'#title' => t('Personal information'),
'#weight' => 1,
);
$form['personal']['name'] = array(
'#type' => 'textfield',
'#title' => t('Name'),
'#weight' => 1,
);
$form['personal']['company'] = array(
'#type' => 'textfield',
'#title' => t('Company'),
'#weight' => 2,
);
$form['email'] = array(
'#type' => 'textfield',
'#title' => t('E-mail address'),
'#weight' => 3,
);
Note that Name and Company are now array elements of $form['personal'].
If you want to make Name show up after Company in the fieldset, set its #weight higher than 2. Because the Name is now part of a fieldset that has a lower #weight than the E-mail address field, even if you set $form['personal']['name']['#weight'] to 4, it wouldn't make the Name show up after E-mail address.
So what you're going to attempt to do is use hook_form_alter() to alter the user_register form to change the weights of certain form elements, create your own fieldsets, and move certain form elements into your newly created fieldsets.
There are ways to do this within your theme, but I prefer creating a custom module for this. Create your custom module, and implement hook_form_alter():
function test_form_alter(&$form, $form_state, $form_id) {
if ($form_id === 'user_register') { // Only modify the user registration form
// Before you can get down to business, you need to figure out the
// structure of the user registration form. Use var_dump or kpr to dump
// the $form array.
// Note: if you want to use kpr on the user registration form, give
// anonymous permission to see devel information.
// kpr($form);
// Move Name field to after E-Mail field
$form['name']['#weight'] = 2;
$form['mail']['#weight'] = 1;
// Group Name and E-mail together into a fieldset
$form['personal_info'] = array(
'#type' => 'fieldset',
'#title' => t('Personal information'),
);
$form['personal_info']['name'] = $form['name'];
$form['personal_info']['mail'] = $form['mail'];
// The last block only copied the elements: unset the old ones.
unset($form['name']);
unset($form['mail']);
}
}
In more complex forms, moving things from one fieldset to another might yield unexpected results when submitting the form. This is because $form['name'] isn't the same as $form['group']['name'], which isn't the same as $form['other_group']['name']. You don't have to worry about that on the user_register form for the most part, but check out the handbook page on #tree and #parents for more information about this.
This covers modifying existing fields in the user registration form: if you want to add new fields, I highly recommend using Content Profile. If you want to create custom fields on your own, it's going to get a lot more complex as you're going to have to implement your own validate and submit handlers. Content Profile handles this for you: check out its README to see how to activate it for registration forms.
Using hook_form_alter you can do whatever you want with a form.
For example changing the weight can change the position on the page.
If you try:
MYMODULE_form_user_profile_form_alter(&$form, $form_state) {
// do your processing here
var_dump($form);
}
replacing MYMODULE with the name of your module.
You will see the structure of the form, you can change values in there to alter, labels weights descriptions etc.
In a module, first use hook_theme() , now assuming the name of your module is 'd6_forms' :
function d6_forms_theme() {
return array(
'user_register' => array(
'template' => 'templates/user-register-form',
'arguments' => array('form' => NULL),
),
);
}
This will make the user_register form look for a template, in the specified folder.
So make sure that in your module folder, there is a folder called 'templates', with a file 'user-register-form.tpl.php'.
You notice that in the hook_theme() , the extenstion of the template file ( .tpl.php ) is not supplied. That's normal, you don't need to specify it there.
Do make sure however, that the template has that extension, and that it's not just named 'user-register-form.php' !
In that template file, you have access to the $form variable , so print it there to see what fields are in there.
The devel module is recommened, since it's able to print big Drupal arrays in a fancy way ( using dpm() ).
If you do not have Devel module, or don't want to use it, this also works : <?php print '<pre>' . print_r($form, 1) . '</pre>'; ?>.
To print a field, just use <?php print drupal_render($form[field_name]); ?>, this will print the field and make sure that it works as intended.
So for example, if you want to print the 'name' field in the $form array, just use <?php print drupal_render($form['name']); ?>.
You don't have to print every field ! Just print the fields that you want to move somewhere ( which, with a basic Drupal register form, are about 3 : name, email & submit ).
To print all the remaining fields, just end your template with <?php print drupal_render($form); ?>.
It is important that you don't forget this, since the $form var contains stuff that is absolutely needed for your form to work ( like a token, etc .. ).
So good standard behaviour when templating a form, is to print that piece of code first at the bottom of your template.
This is an entire example of a small register form template, with some basic html :
<?php
// What is in that $form var ? To check, uncomment next line
// print '<pre>' . print_r($form, 1) . '</pre>';
?>
<div style="background-color:#ddd;padding:10px;">
<?php print drupal_render($form['name']); ?>
<?php print drupal_render($form['mail']); ?>
</div>
<div>
<?php print drupal_render($form['submit']); ?>
</div>
<?php print drupal_render($form); ?>
maybe this will help:
http://drupal.org/node/44910
You just need to Enable the Profile Module which would give access to place more fields in sign up form.
Go through this Simple Video tutorial which would be very helpful for beginners in Drupal .
http://planetghost.com/add_more_fields_to_sign_up

Resources