Creating new attribute using addAttribute() in installation scripts

Question

I'm writing an installation script in an extension that adds some new attributes. I'm using the following. I'm following and old tutorial (http://blog.chapagain.com.np/magento-adding-attribute-from-mysql-setup-file/), but it's no longer up-to-date because Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Setup::addAttribute does not include any of the "Frontend Properties" mapping, denoted by // X. Is it possible to set these properties with addAttribute()? If not, how should I go about installing a new attribute with frontend properties?

$setup->addAttribute('catalog_product', 'testatt', array(
    'global' => Mage_Catalog_Model_Resource_Eav_Attribute::SCOPE_GLOBAL,
    'input' => 'select',
    'type' => 'int',
    'backend' => '',    // backend_model
    'frontend' => '',   // fronted_model
    'label' => 'ATT NAME HERE',
    'class' => '',  ,
    'user_defined' => true,
    'required' => false,

    // Frontend Properties start here
    'visible' => true, // X
    'filterable' => true,    // X

);

On EE 1.13.

Update: See benmarks' answer!

Answer 1

You are using the incorrect setup class. Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Setup has never had access to catalog-specific properties, which reside in the additional table (catalog_eav_attribute).

You either need to register catalog/setup as your module's setup resource or (more likely) instantiate it directly in your setup script:

$installer = Mage::getResourceModel('catalog/setup', 'catalog_setup');

In order to understand the mapping, refer to Mage_Catalog_Model_Resource_Setup::_prepareValues(). I (warning: self-promotion) recently posted a detailed dive of EAV attribute configuration at http://www.webguys.de/magento/eav-attribute-setup/.

Answer 2

you can try below one it will work for your requirement. This is the syntax of create the attribute via installer script.

$installer = $this;
$installer->startSetup();
$installer->addAttribute('catalog_product', 'page_layout', array(
  'type'              => 'varchar',
  'backend'           => '',
  'frontend'          => '',
  'label'             => 'Page Layout',
  'input'             => 'select',
  'class'             => '',
  'source'            => 'catalog/product_attribute_source_layout',
  'global'            => Mage_Catalog_Model_Resource_Eav_Attribute::SCOPE_STORE,
  'visible'           => true,
  'required'          => false,
  'user_defined'      => false,
  'default'           => '',
  'searchable'        => false,
  'filterable'        => false,
  'comparable'        => false,
  'visible_on_front'  => false,
  'unique'            => false,
  'group'             => 'Design'
));

$installer->endSetup();

Answer 3

This script will work if you add class "Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Setup" in your module config.xml setup block.