Rewrite adminhtml template not working, only if I refresh the page

Question

I want to modify the backend template design/adminhtml/default/default/template/sales/order/create/totals.phtml

Its gonna be part of a module so I've implement the rewrite in the modules layout update file (app/design/adminhtml/default/default/layout/xentas_sales.xml)

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<layout version="0.1.0">

    <!-- Backend create order -->
    <adminhtml_sales_order_create_index>
        <!-- Overwrite totals template -->    
        <reference name="data">
                <block type="adminhtml/sales_order_create_totals" name="totals">
                    <action method="unsetChild"><name>totals</name></action>
                    <action method="setTemplate">
                        <template>xentas_sales/sales/order/create/totals.phtml</template>
                    </action>
                </block>
        </reference>
    </adminhtml_sales_order_create_index>
</layout>

But the new template only shows up if I refresh the "create new order" page in backend. It does not show up when I load the page in the first place.

I experience the same issue if I overwrite app/code/core/Mage/Adminhtml/Block/Sales/Order/Create/Totals.php and add to its _construct method setTemplate('...');

So it looks like there is some kind of sort order issue? How can I override an adminhtml template without creating my own admin theme and make sure its get overwritten by page load and not only by page refresh?

Thanks!

Answer 1

If you want to change only template. There are no need to change rewrite block class.

As per as,magento by reference <reference name=""> name you can change template file.So no need to rewrite block class.

<adminhtml_sales_order_create_index>
        <!-- Overwrite totals template -->    
        <reference name="totals">
                    <action method="setTemplate">
                        <template>xentas_sales/sales/order/create/totals.phtml</template>
                    </action>
        </reference>
</adminhtml_sales_order_create_index>

Also there are two handlers,this phtml are called ,so you should need to changes also there .

<adminhtml_sales_order_create_load_block_totals>
        <reference name="totals">
                    <action method="setTemplate">
                        <template>xentas_sales/sales/order/create/totals.phtml</template>
                    </action>
        </reference>
</adminhtml_sales_order_create_load_block_totals>
<adminhtml_sales_order_create_load_block_data>
        <reference name="totals">
                    <action method="setTemplate">
                        <template>xentas_sales/sales/order/create/totals.phtml</template>
                    </action>
        </reference>
</adminhtml_sales_order_create_load_block_data>

Most Important thing

You need to define xentas_sales.xml file at config.xml