Block Order on Home Page

Question

I have a scenario where i need to place two blocks one after the other in default handle. One block make use of template file while other use static block. Issue i am facing is ordering of the block. I want block with template file first and then static block.

code for layout file is as below

<layout version="0.1.0">
    <default>
        <reference name="content">
            <block type="core/template" name="practiceblock" after="page_content_heading"
                   template="blockpractice/newblock.phtml"/>
            <block type="cms/block" name="practiceCMSBlock" after="-">
                <action method="setBlockId">
                    <block_id>practiceCMSBlock</block_id>
                </action>
            </block>
        </reference>
    </default>
</layout>

I have used after="-" for static block but is still show as below

Any clue for above?

Answer 1

Below is the code that I have used to show template block and then cms block.

<layout version="0.1.0">
    <default>
        <reference name="content">
            <block type="core/template" name="practiceblock" template="blockpractice/newblock.phtml"/>
            <block type="cms/block" name="practiceCMSBlock" after="practiceblock">
                <action method="setBlockId">
                    <block_id>practiceCMSBlock</block_id>
                </action>
            </block>
        </reference>
    </default>
</layout>

Output is

Template Block
CMS Block

Answer 2

If you want the static block to be displayed after template file your code should be something like this

<layout version="0.1.0">
    <default>
        <reference name="content">
            <block type="core/template" name="practiceblock" after="page_content_heading"
                   template="blockpractice/newblock.phtml"/>
            <block type="cms/block" name="practiceCMSBlock" after="practiceblock">
                <action method="setBlockId">
                    <block_id>practiceCMSBlock</block_id>
                </action>
            </block>
        </reference>
    </default>
</layout>

Hope this will help

Answer 3

Instead of using layout it is also possible to just echo the CMS block content at the end of template file blockpractice/newblock.phtml just add the following lines, to keep everything simple and in order.

echo $this->getLayout()->createBlock('cms/block')->setBlockId('practiceCMSBlock')->toHtml();

Answer 4

Following code will work to order block with template file first and then static block:

<layout version="0.1.0">
<default>
    <reference name="content">
        <block type="core/template" name="practiceblock" before="practiceCMSBlock" template="blockpractice/newblock.phtml"/>
        <block type="cms/block" name="practiceCMSBlock" after="practiceblock">
            <action method="setBlockId">
                <block_id>practiceCMSBlock</block_id>
            </action>
        </block>
    </reference>
</default>

Hope this will work for you. :)