Different layout for different action controller

Question

I created a module that add a link inside customer account navigation. My controller is like this

public function indexAction() {
    $this->loadLayout();
    $this->renderLayout();
}

public function testAction() {
    $this->loadLayout();
    $this->renderLayout();
}

If I go to /customer/mymodule/index I can see correctly the layout with my own .phtml specified inside the .xml.

Now I would like to assign to customer/mymodule/test another file .phtml with always the left account customer navigation as inside the index action.

Thanks

Answer 1

The update layout tag allows you to call another layout handle in your current handle. I suggest that this is what you are looking for. It will allow you to use the exact same layout as in the index action and then make any changes that you need.

<your_first_handle>
    <!-- some layout goes here -->
</your_first_handle>

<your_second_handle>
    <update handle="your_first_handle" />
    <!-- any layout for the second handle can go here -->
</your_second_handle>