Theming Module Output - drupal

Question

What I am trying to do is generate some raw output within a module.
I would like to pass an array of data through to a template file, and then use that data to populate the code from the template. The template is represented by a file in my theme folder.
I have a hook set up for a certain URL (/itunes):
$items['itunes'] = array(
'page callback' => 'itunespromo_buildpage',
'type' => MENU_SUGGESTED_ITEM,
'access arguments' => array('access content'),
);
..inside itunespromo_buildpage...
function itunespromo_buildpage() {
//grab some data to pass through to template file, put into $promo_data
$details = theme('itunes_page', array(
'promo_data' => $promo_data,
));
return $details;
}
Here is the hook_theme():
function itunespromo_theme() {
return array(
'itunes_page' => array(
'template' => 'itunes_page',
),
);
}
Inside my theme's template.php:
function geddystyle_itunes_page($vars) {
return print_r($vars['promo_data'], true);
}
Right now, $promo_data is being passed through fine, and it is print_r'd on to the result page. However, I'd like to then take this $promo_data variable and use it in my itunes_page.tpl.php template file.
I'm kind of certain I'm close here. Am I supposed to call some sort of render function and pass the $promo_data variable to it from function itunespromo_theme()?

Answer 1

I believe you just need to update your hook_theme() to provide the ability to send variables to your template file.
Something like this should do the trick:
function itunespromo_theme($existing, $type, $theme, $path) {
return array(
'itunes_page' => array(
'variables' => array(
'promo_data' => NULL,
),
'template' => 'itunes_page',
)
);
}
Also, instead of calling the theme() function directly what you want to be doing is actually constructing a renderable array and letting Drupal call the theme() function. What you should be doing is calling drupal_render which in turn calls theme() for you. Look at this piece of advice here for a little more clarity:
http://drupal.org/node/1351674#comment-5288046
In your case you would change your function itunespromo_buildpage to look something like this:
function itunespromo_buildpage() {
//grab some data to pass through to template file, put into $promo_data
$output = array(
'#theme' => 'itunes_page',
'#promo_data' => $promo_data //call $promo_data from the tpl.php page to access the variable
);
$details = drupal_render($output);
return $details;
}