Creating a new view on an existing controller with a plugin.

hgtonight

Is it possible to create a new view for an existing controller from withing a plugin?

That is, say I want to create a new way of looking at categories. I could overwrite the default view with a custom one using a theme. But I want to give my users a choice of different views. How would I go about adding a custom view to the categories controller?

I have gotten as far as creating a plugin with the following function:
public function CategoriesController_Render_Before($Sender) { //todo: implement view choice logic $Sender->View = "anewwaytolookatthings"; }

This just gives me a view not found error. Even if I put a file called "anewwaytolookatthings.php" in my plugins folder.

Thoughts?

x00

Don't override. avoid it at all costs, usually I handle that with redirects, but only when strictly necessary. I take it you are manly concerned with a different display format.

you can use CategoriesController_Render_Before

put your view in a folder called views inside your plugin folder reference it like so

$Sender->View = $this->GetView('myalternativeview.php');

Note this only work in plugins. GetView is a method of Gdn_Plugin

hgtonight

I have made it a few steps farther. I can override a function on an existing controller like so:
public function CategoriesController_Index_Create($Sender) {

Now how can I access data thrown to the original function?
public function Index($CategoryIdentifier = '', $Page = '0') {

I figured out I can use:
public function CategoriesController_Index_Create($Sender, $CategoryIdentifier = '', $Page = '0') {

Everything seems to be working well, other than having to replace $this with $Sender if I want to access the overridden controller's members.

Is there anything else I am missing?

businessdad

Sorry, I got a bit confused, what is your current progress? have you managed to do what you were looking for, or do you still get errors?

hgtonight

I still haven't found an answer to my original question, but I figured out how to override the default Categories Controller function. Hopefully this will lead somewhere profitable.

businessdad

Ok. You could try using FetchViewLocation() to get the view and give it to the Sender.

$Sender->View = $Sender->FetchViewLocation('myalternativeview', '', 'plugins/MyPlugin');

Please note I haven't tested the above, this is just am 11:30 PM idea.

hgtonight

That gave me the error "View not found" which is the same issue I had initially.

Thanks for the help anyway @businessdad

x00

Don't override. avoid it at all costs, usually I handle that with redirects, but only when strictly necessary. I take it you are manly concerned with a different display format.

you can use CategoriesController_Render_Before

put your view in a folder called views inside your plugin folder reference it like so

$Sender->View = $this->GetView('myalternativeview.php');

Note this only work in plugins. GetView is a method of Gdn_Plugin

hgtonight

Sad that I was had the solution, but it didn't work because I didn't have the extension. Slapping myself for not thinking about it.

Thanks @x00 and @businessdad for your help!