Where do I specify the file path for phtml? (Clarification please)

Question

Where do I put the phtml file that all of this works with?

Current Files and their folder structure: app/code/local/Sean/Customform/controllers/IndexController.php

<?php
class Sean_Customform_IndexController extends Mage_Core_Controller_Front_Action{
    public function indexAction(){ //this will display the form
        $this->loadLayout();
        $this->_initLayoutMessages('core/session'); //this will allow flash messages
        $this->renderLayout();
    }
    public function sendAction(){ //handles the form submit
        $customer = Mage::getSingleton('customer/session')->getCustomer();
        $post = Mage::app()->getRequest()->getParams();

        $customer->setData('vendorMarkup', $post['vendorMarkup']);
        $customer->setData('vendorGramPrice', $post['vendorGramPrice']);
        $customer->setData('vendorGramFront', $post['vendorGramFront']);
        $customer->setData('vendorGramBack', $post['vendorGramBack']);
        $customer->setData('vendorDefaultCalc', $post['defaultMarkup']);
        $customer->save();

        Mage::getSingleton('core/session')->addSuccess($this->__('Your Calculator Preferences Are Updated!'));//add success message.
        $this->_redirect('*/*');
    }
}

app/code/local/Sean/Customform/etc/config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
    <modules>
        <Sean_Customform>
            <version>0.0.1</version>
        </Sean_Customform>
    </modules>
    <global>
        <blocks>
            <customform><!-- block alias -->
                <class>Sean_Customform_Block</class>
            </customform>
        </blocks>
        <helpers>
            <customform><!-- helper alias -->
                <class>Sean_Customform_Helper</class>
            </customform>
        </helpers>
    </global>
    <frontend>
        <routers>
            <customform>
                <use>standard</use>
                <args>
                    <module>Sean_Customform</module>
                    <frontName>customform</frontName><!-- url key for module -->
                </args>
            </customform>
        </routers>
        <layout>
            <updates>
                <sean_customform>
                    <file>sean_customform.xml</file><!-- frontend layout file -->
                </sean_customform>
            </updates>
        </layout>
        <translate>
            <modules>
                <Sean_Customform>
                    <files>
                        <default>Sean_Customform.csv</default><!-- translation file (not mandatory) -->
                    </files>
                </Sean_Customform>
            </modules>
        </translate>
    </frontend>
</config>

app/code/local/Sean/Customform/helper.Data.php

<?php
class Sean_Customform_Helper_Data extends Mage_Core_Helper_Abstract{
}

And of course, app/etc/modules/Sean_Customform.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
    <modules>
        <Sean_Customform>
            <active>true</active>
            <codePool>local</codePool>
        </Sean_Customform>
    </modules>
</config>

Answer 1

In your config.xml file, you have this part.

    <layout>
        <updates>
            <sean_customform>
                <file>sean_customform.xml</file><!-- frontend layout file -->
            </sean_customform>
        </updates>
    </layout>

This defines a frontend layout xml file sean_customform.xml which is going to hold all frontend layout definition specifically for your module. You can find this file at location app/design/frontend/base/default/sean_customform.xml.

Here you will find your form.phtml file inclusion.

So basically you have a dedicated layout xml for your module and all module related layout definition is going to happen in that layout xml file (in this case, it is sean_customform.xml). This file will hold all phtml files.

Answer 2

You are basically asking us to explain how the layout system works. Once you understand how the xml layout works, you will answer your question.

Explaining the layout system here, now, would just take a bit much. your friend mr google will reveal lots of good resources in this regard.

One such resource is : http://magebase.com/magento-tutorials/demystifying-magentos-layout-xml-part-1/

Once you grep the layout system, your ability to change magento to your needs will jump ten fold. You will understand how to manipulate the display layer and adjust the sites visual display in areas without the need to rewrite core blocks.

Using layout directives to change display layer will help later with upgradability.

To many times i have come accross rewrite directives that gets placed on core blocks, which could very easily just be done using layout directives.

Answer 3

As per magento functionality when you define phtm file in your xml, Magento first search it in your current theme.

if file does not exist in current theme template path then it will searching in base theme.

You have to just define phtml file with template file path not full path of phtml file.