Change the default layout template programatically

Question

I need to change default layout file (1column.phtml, 2columns-left.phtml, etc.) based on currently logged in user (user group) and if he's logged in or not.

Is changing the default template possible from inside the PHP code, I mean just layout, I know how to do PHP logic?

Answer 1

Another way to this create different handler for each customer group using event controller_action_layout_load_before then on layout xml set it template.

Config.xml code is:

 <frontend>
        <events>
            <controller_action_layout_load_before>
                <observers>
                    <add_Customer_handler>
                        <class>MymoduleModelPrefix/observer</class>
                        <method>addHandler</method>
                    </add_Customer_handler>
                </observers>
            </controller_action_layout_load_before>
        </events>
  <frontend>

and Observer code is

<?php
class MymoduleNameSpace_Mymodule_Model_Observer{
 public function addHandler($observer)
    {
        $loggedIn = Mage::getSingleton('customer/session')->isLoggedIn();
    if($loggedIn):
    $groupId = Mage::getSingleton('customer/session')->getCustomerGroupId();
    //Get customer Group name
      $group = Mage::getModel('customer/group')->load($groupId);
      //echo $group->getCode();
        $observer->getEvent()->getLayout()->getUpdate()
             ->addHandle('customer_group_'.strtolower($group->getCode()));
    endif;
    }

}

According to observer code , it create handler like

General Group Customer :customer_group_general whole Group Customer : customer_group_wholesales etc.

Logic like: customer_group_LOweCaseOfCustomergroupName

  <customer_group_general>
    <reference name="root">
        <action method="setTemplate"><template>page/1column.phtml</template></action>
    </reference>
</customer_group_general>

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

Answer 2

You can change the template (layout file) in your controller.

<?php
    public function indexAction() {
        $this->loadLayout();
        if (yourcondition){ // e.g. check user group
            $this->getLayout()->getBlock('root')->setTemplate('page/templatefile.phtml');  //changes the template
        }
        $this->renderLayout();
        return $this;
    }
?>

Answer 3

The best and recommended way is using the layout handle that is uniquely created for this purpose. They are non another than customer_logged_in and customer_logged_out.

<customer_logged_in>
    <reference name="root">
        <action method="setTemplate"><template>page/1column.phtml</template></action>
    </reference>
</customer_logged_in>

for logged-in-customers and

<customer_logged_out>
    <reference name="root">
        <action method="setTemplate"><template>page/1column.phtml</template></action>
    </reference>
</customer_logged_out>

for not-logged-in customers.

Note 1: These two layout handles will be processed very early. So there is a chance to rewrite the root template by other layout handles which will processed after these layout handles.

Note 2 : Change the template file that you needed in the above example code as per your need.

Note 2 : If you want to change the template based on the customer groups, then you should go with programmatic ways

Answer 4

Untested, but this should work:

$layout = Mage::app()->getLayout();
$roleId = Mage::getSingleton('customer/session')->getCustomerGroupId();
$role = Mage::getSingleton('customer/group')->load($roleId)->getData('customer_group_code');

if($role == "Wholesale") {
    $layout->getUpdate()->addUpdate('<reference name="root"><action method="setTemplate"><template>page/1column.phtml</template></action></reference>');
    $layout->generateXml();
}

Reference:

• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12458611/update-layout-programatically-in-magento-event-observer