Is there a way to use a default handle that all the controllers using a particular layout.xml file use that handle?

Question

I was creating 4-5 controllers, all of which would use the same template-block files

so, was wondering if there was a way to assign same template-block without changing the the handles, i.e without copy pasting the same thing for all the handles..

Answer 1

There are two ways of doing this either by using an update handles, which will essentially add a complete layout handle inside another one.

<your_default_handle>
    <!-- add your blocks -->
</your_default_handle>

Then on each controller handle you can use this handle.

<controller_handle>
    <update handle="your_default_handle" />
    <!-- make any changes that you need -->
</controller_handle>

The other option is to add the handle in your controller. This can be done via the following code:

$update = $this->getLayout()->getUpdate();
$update->addHandle('your_default_handle');

Answer 2

Yes there is.
Create your own handle that looks like this.

<my_handle>
    <!-- blocks go here -->
</my_handle>

Now you can include your handle in the handle of your action:

<module_controller_action>
    <update handle="my_handle" />
    <!-- additional blocks go here if you need them -->
<module_controller_action>