[SOLVED] Create variable accessible through all templates in PrestaShop

[jave.web]

I understood that if I want to make my own template variable in PrestaShop, I would use code like this:

$this->context->smarty->assign( 'varName', 'varValue' );

I also understood that the right way to add this is putting it into a controller... and it all works...

 

What I can't figure out is how to do this in one place but still being able to access the template variable in ALL templates (my theme's .tpl files)?

 

PS: Adding it to all controllers seems redundant... I tried to google it out, but I guess I am putting bad keywords to search for...

 

(this copy-post , also available on http://stackoverflow.com/questions/32154593/create-variable-accessible-through-all-templates-in-prestashop )

Edited August 22, 2015 by jave.web (see edit history)

[jave.web]

So I found a solution.

What you want to do is to put your variable definition in some "general" controller - for frontend it is the FrontController. A better way then to edit the core file, is to make an override so I will show you all you need to do - considering PrestaShop 1.6 :

1. Create a file called FrontController.php and put it in override/classes/controller

2. Create a content of this file - handy method to override is initHeader(), because the variable will be available in header.tpl and all templates that are using it
   (tested in header.tpl and index.tpl).

Content of override/classes/controller/FrontController.php:

class FrontController extends FrontControllerCore {
   public function initHeader(){
      //create your variable
      self::$smarty->assign('yourVariable', 'valueOfYourVariable');

      //call original method, to maintain default behaviour:
      return parent::initHeader();
   }
}

3. Load the override=> go to cache directory (from shop root) and edit file called class_index.php:

   • find array with key "FrontController" (search for 'FrontController' or "FrontController")
   • in this array change "WHATEVER" in 'path' => 'WHATEVER', 
     to override/classes/controller/FrontController.php so you will get: 
     'path' => 'override/classes/controller/FrontController.php',

4. Use your variable freely in template files as {$yourVariable}

Reference: http://doc.prestashop.com/display/PS16/Overriding+default+behaviors

Edited August 22, 2015 by jave.web (see edit history)