Change page layout for products under specific category

Question

I am trying to set 2columns-right.phtml layout for products under specific category while the default is 1column.phtml.(Please note i don't want to change Category page layout but layouts of products under that category)

I tried Admin >Manage categories >Select Category >Custom design >Change "Apply to Products" to yes and in "Custom Layout Updates" entered

<reference name="product.info">
<action method="setTemplate"><template>page/2columns-right.phtml</template></action>
</reference>

Didn't work

Then i went to rwd/default/layout/catalog.xml and added after

<!--
    Product view
    -->

Entered

<CATEGORY_3>
<reference name="product.info">
<action method="setTemplate"><template>page/2columns-right.phtml</template></action>
    </reference>
    </CATEGORY_3>

But even this didn't work, It would be of great help any ideas on this. Magento CE Version 1.9.1

Answer 1

Create a small module

Your config.xml should looks like

app/code/codePool/Package/Extension/etc/config.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<config>
    <modules>
        <Package_Extension>
            <version>0.1.0</version>
        </Package_Extension>
    </modules>
    <global>
        <events>
            <controller_action_layout_load_before>
                <observers>
                    <categoryhandle>
                        <class>Package_Extension_Model_Observer</class>
                        <method>cateHandle</method>
                    </categoryhandle>
                </observers>
            </controller_action_layout_load_before>
        </events>
    </global>
</config>

Your observer should looks like

app/code/codePool/Package/Extension/Model/Observer.php

<?php
class Package_Extension_Model_Observer
{

    public function cateHandle(Varien_Event_Observer $observer)
    {
        $product = Mage::registry('current_product');

        /**
         * Return if it is not product page
         */
        if (!($product instanceof Mage_Catalog_Model_Product)) {
            return;
        }
        $category= 3;
        $categories=$product->getCategoryIds();
        if(in_array($category, $categories)){
            $update = $observer->getEvent()->getLayout()->getUpdate();
            $update->addHandle('PRODUCT_CATEGORY_'.$category);
        }

    }
}

And in your themes local.xml add below code or as you mention rwd/default/layout/catalog.xml add below code

<PRODUCT_CATEGORY_3>
    <reference name="root">
      <action method="setTemplate"><template>page/2columns-right.phtml</template></action>
    </reference>
</PRODUCT_CATEGORY_3>

Answer 2

Use controller_action_layout_generate_xml_before Event

<events>
    <controller_action_layout_generate_xml_before>
        <observers>
            <add_Customer_handler>
                <class><VENDOR_NAME>_<MODULE_NAME>_Model_Observer</class>
                <method>changeTemplate</method>
            </add_Customer_handler>
        </observers>
    </controller_action_layout_generate_xml_before>  
</events>

Observer

public function changeTemplate($observer)
{
    $action = $observer->getEvent()->getAction();
    $fullActionName = $action->getFullActionName();
    $category=<YOUR CATEGORY ID>;

    if($fullActionName=='catalog_product_view')
    {
      $product=Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->load(Mage::registry('current_product')->getId());
      $categories=$product->getCategoryIds()();

      if(in_array($category, $categories);){
        $layout = $observer->getEvent()->getLayout();
        $update = $layout->getUpdate();
        $xml = "<reference name='root'><action method='setTemplate'><template>page/2columns-right.phtml</template></action></reference>";
        $update->addUpdate($xml);
      }
    }
}

Answer 3

You can set layout for any specific category as per your requirement from admin.

Follow the steps:

Login to admin >> catalog >> Manage categories >> select your category >> custom design tab >> change page layout >> save category.

Answer 4

The following setting should work:

Go to Admin >Manage categories >Select Category >Custom design then select

1. Page Layout to 2columns-right.phtml and

2. In Custom Layout Update put the following code.

   <reference name="product.info">
     //put the child block here that you want call.
   </reference>
   

Answer 5

Found a much simpler solution, if you only need the change for a couple of products:

create a fancy_name.phtml file in your_theme/default/template/page/ (from copy of 1column-product.phtml or something).

Edit fancy_name.phtml until it becomes really fancy.

Go to magento backend, go to your product, go to design -> Custom layout update. Paste the following code and save:

<reference name="root">
    <action method="setTemplate"><template>page/fancy_name.phtml</template></action>
</reference>