how to override only .phtml files in my custom module in magento?

Question

I don't want to override .php files I want to edit only .phtml files of Page Module

how can I create layout file and assign?

thanks.

Answer 1

to edit the layout use the local.xml file in your template. In case it's not there yet you can go ahead and create it.

If you want to have a custom layout file like, for example, magentonav.xml you will be required to have your own extension that includes it in the layout.

In case you want to create a new block in your layout with a custom .phtml file you can do the following for example

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<layout version="0.1.0">
    <default translate="label" module="page">
        <reference name="left">
            <block type="core/template" name="my_custom_name" template="magentonav/mytemplate.phtml"/>
        </reference>
    </default>
</layout>

Notice the type core/template. This will allow you to add a .phtml file to your layout without requiring you to write your own custom block class

Answer 2

if you don't want to create any module or xml file, just simply copy the file /app/design/frontend/base/default/template/page/XXXX.phtml

to

/app/design/frontend/default/default/template/page/XXXX.phtml

then modify the files under your theme. Magento will overwrite itself.

hit: default/default is based on you use the default theme. so change that if you use different theme.