PacktLib: Learning Joomla! 1.5 Extension Development: Creating Modules, Components, and Plugins with PHP

About the Author

About the Reviewer

Joomla! Extension Development: An Overview

Why Extend Joomla!

Customization versus Extension

How to Extend Joomla!

Our Example Project

Getting Started with Component Development

Joomla!’s Component Structure

Executing the Component

Joomla!’s Division between Front End and Back End

Registering Your Component in the Database

Creating Toolbars

Back-End Development

Creating the Database Table

Creating a Table Class

Creating the Review Form

Processing the Data

Creating a List Screen

Editing Records

Deleting Records

Front-End Development

Listing the Reviews

Displaying a Review

Generating Search-Engine Friendly Links

Adding Comments

Displaying Comments

Module Development

Registering the Module in the Database

Creating and Configuring a Basic Module

Expanding the Project

Model, View, Controller: Why?

Building Data Models

Migrating to Views

Switching Through Controllers

Reorganizing the Back-End Code

Publishing Controls for Reviews

Adding Pagination

Management for Comments

Additional Toolbars

Behind the Scenes: Plug-Ins

Database Queries

A Simple Link Plug-In

An Information Box Plug-In

Searching the Reviews

Configuration Settings

Adding Parameters to Extensions

Parameters for Modules

Parameters for Plug-Ins

Parameters for Components

Packing Everything Together

Listing All Files

Packaging the Module

Packaging Plug-ins

Packaging the Component

Including SQL Queries

Creating Back-End Menu Items

Extra Installation Scripts