Layout XML - Custom Layout Update not being used

Question

I have set a layout update for a category in the admin (Custom Layout Update).

Here is the code incase that is not legible

<reference name="product_list">
    <action method="setTemplate"><template>catalog/product/list-sub-categories.phtml</template></action>
</reference>
<reference name="left">
    <block type="catalog/navigation" name="catalog.leftnav" before="-promo.container.1" template="catalog/navigation/left-main.phtml"/>
</reference>

This isn't reflected on that category page. The template used is still the default catalog/product/list.phtml

I have written an observer on "controller_action_layout_generate_blocks_before" to log the layout xml. At the very end of the log file the custom xml is present.

<reference name="product_list">
    <action method="setTemplate"><template>catalog/product/list-sub-categories.phtml</template></action>
</reference>
<reference name="left">
    <block type="catalog/navigation" name="catalog.leftnav" before="-promo.container.1" template="catalog/navigation/left-main.phtml"/>
</reference>

Caching is switched off and I've flushed the cache a few time to make sure. I'm a bit puzzled on this one. Anyone come across something similar? Or suggest further debugging steps.

Answer 1

Your code seems correct, check logs or third party extensions.

There is also one other way to do this by local.xml . You can use a handle like <CATEGORY_[ID]> :

<CATEGORY_4>
    <reference name="product_list">
        <action method="setTemplate"><template>catalog/product/list-sub-categories.phtml</template></action>
    </reference>
</CATEGORY_4>

<CATEGORY_20>
    <reference name="product_list">
        <action method="setTemplate"><template>catalog/product/list-sub-categories.phtml</template></action>
    </reference>
</CATEGORY_20>

Here, 4 and 20 are category_id for which you want to use list-sub-categories.phtml template. You can add as many handles as you want.