Create new module “HelloWorld” – in Magento

Do you want to create a new page in Magento ? or Do you want to create a new module in Magento ? If yes, Then ok, just spend 10 minutes and follow below steps.

Objectives: I will create a new page in Magento whose output will be “Hello World ! I am a Magento Guy..”.
Target: Create a new module called “HelloWorld”

Step 1: Module Declaration
Create app/etc/modules/M4U_HelloWorld.xml and write below code

<br />
<?xml version="1.0"?><br />
<config><br />
         <modules><br />
                <M4U_HelloWorld><br />
                        <active>true</active><br />
                        <codePool>local</codePool><br />
                </M4U_HelloWorld><br />
         </modules><br />
</config><br />

Step 2: Module Configuration

a. Create a controller class app/code/local/M4U/HelloWorld/controllers/IndexController.php

class M4U_HelloWorld_IndexController extends Mage_Core_Controller_Front_Action
{
    public function indexAction()
    {
     $this->loadLayout(array('default'));
     $this->renderLayout();
    }
}

b. Create a Block class app/code/local/M4U/HelloWorld/Block/HelloWorld.php

class M4U_HelloWorld_Block_HelloWorld extends Mage_Core_Block_Template
{
  // necessary methods
}

c. create configuration xml in app/code/local/M4U/HelloWorld/etc/config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
	<global>
		<modules>
                <m4u_helloworld>
                        <version>0.1.0</version>
                </m4u_helloworld>
        </modules>
	<blocks>
            <helloworld>
                <rewrite>
		 <helloworld>M4U_HelloWorld_Block_HelloWorld</helloworld>
		</rewrite>
            </helloworld>
	 </blocks> 

        </global>
	   <frontend>
                <routers>
                        <helloworld>
                                <use>standard</use>
                                <args>
                                      <module>M4U_HelloWorld</module>
                                      <frontName>helloworld</frontName>
                                </args>
                        </helloworld>
                </routers>
		<layout>
			<updates>
				<helloworld>
		   		      <file>helloworld.xml</file>
				</helloworld>
			</updates>
       		</layout>
        </frontend>
</config>

Define Frontend Template :

1. Define page layout in app/design/frontend/M4U/default/layout/helloworld.xml

N.B: Use default instead of M4U as template location if you use default design packages. Means create file in app/design/frontend/default/default/layout/helloworld.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>

	<layout version="0.1.0">

		<helloworld_index_index>
			<reference name="root">
				<action method="setTemplate"><template>page/1column.phtml</template></action>
       	 	</reference>
			<reference name="content">
            	<block type="helloworld/helloworld" name="hello" template="helloworld/helloworld.phtml"/>
        	</reference>
		</helloworld_index_index>

	</layout>

2. Create template file app/design/frontend/M4U/default/template/helloworld/helloworld.phtml and write down

N.B: Use default instead of M4U as template location if you use default design packages. Means create file in app/design/frontend/default/default/template/helloworld/helloworld.phtml

Hello World ! I am a Magento Guy..

Hey, new module is ready to run and hit browser with url http://127.0.0.1/projectname/index.php/helloworld/
and see result.

That’s it……..

Is it easy or not ? what you think ?

Coder, Please at first try yourself.

Ohh.., Still are you facing problem ? Lets download full module source code from left panel “BOX” section or let me know.