Learning Drupal 6 Module Development

Table of Contents

• Preface

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Drupal Modules
  • Drupal's Architecture
    • Module Architecture
      • Core Modules
      • Hooks
    • Themes
  • Crucial Drupal Concepts
    • Nodes
      • Comments Are Not Nodes
    • Users
      • Access and Security
    • Blocks and Page Rendering
    • Menus
    • Forms
    • Database and Schema APIs
  • Developers' Tools
    • Developer Module
    • Coder Module
  • A Word on Our Demonstration Site
  • Summary

• Chapter 2: Creating Our First Module
  • Starting Out
    • A Place for the Module
    • Creating a .info File
  • A Basic .module File
    • Our Goal: A Block Hook
    • Starting the .module
    • The hook_block() Implementation
      • The t() Function
      • A view Operation
  • Installing a Module
    • Step 1: Copying the Module
    • Step 2: Enabling the Module
    • Step 3: Displaying the Module's Content
  • Using Goodreads Data
    • Modifying the Block Hook
    • Retrieving XML Content over HTTP
      • The watchdog() Function
    • Processing the HTTP Results
    • Formatting the Block's Contents
  • Finishing Touches: hook_help()
  • Summary

• Chapter 3: The Theme System
  • The Theme System's Architecture
    • Theme Templates
    • Theme Engines
    • Theme Hooks
  • Creating a Custom Theme
    • Organization of Themes
      • Sub-themes (Derivative Themes)
      • How Each Theme Functions
    • Creating a Theme
      • Creating the Theme Directory
      • A .info File
      • A CSS Stylesheet
    • A PHPTemplate Theme
      • Template Structure
      • A Page Template for Descartes
      • Using PHP to Override Theme Behavior
      • template.php Gotchas
      • Creating a Screenshot
    • From Here to a Full Theme
  • Summary

• Chapter 4: Theming Modules
  • Our Target Module: What We Want
  • Creating a Custom Content Type
    • Using the Administration Interface to Create a Content Type
      • Content and Nodes
  • The Foundations of the Module
  • A Simple Database Lookup
    • Getting the Node ID
    • Getting the Node's Content
  • Theming Inside a Module
    • Registering a Theme
    • Creating a Theme Hook Function
    • Adding a Stylesheet
  • Overriding the Default Theme from a Theme
    • A Quick Clarification
    • Overriding the Default Theme's CSS
    • Overriding Layout with Templates
  • Summary

• Chapter 5: Using JavaScript and AJAX/JSON in Modules
  • Picking up Where We Left Off
  • Introducing jQuery
    • Modifying HTML with jQuery
    • Checking for JavaScript Support with Drupal
      • Namespaces in JavaScript
      • Drupal's Namespace
      • A Drupal Function: Drupal.jsEnabled()
    • Delaying JavaScript Execution with jQuery
    • Including JavaScript from the Module's Theme
  • Writing a Drupal AJAX/JSON Service
    • The JSON Format
    • Our Module Roadmap
    • Server Side: Defining a New Page
      • Creating a JSON Message
      • Mapping a Function to a URL
      • Passing PHP Settings to JavaScript
    • Client Side: AJAX Handlers
      • A JavaScript Function to Get JSON Content
      • Adding an Event Handler
  • Summary

• Chapter 6: An Administration Module
  • The emailusers Module
  • The Beginning of the Module
    • Mail Configuration
  • Registering an Administration Page
    • A Detailed Look at the Path
      • Marking the Path as an Administration Page
    • Path Registration Parameters
    • Defining the Callback Function
  • Handling Forms with the Forms API (FAPI)
    • Loading a Form with drupal_get_form()
    • A Form Constructor
    • Handling Form Results
    • The Form Submissions Callback
  • Sending Mail with the Mail API
    • Formatting Mail with hook_mail()
    • Altering Messages with hook_mail_alter()
      • Altering Hooks
      • Adding a Mail Footer
  • Incorporating the Module into Administration
    • Modifying the User Profile with hook_user()
      • Constructing the Content
  • Summary

• Chapter 7: Building a Content Type
  • The biography Module
  • The Content Creation Kit
  • The Starting Point
  • The Module Installation Script
    • The Schema API: Defining Database Structures
      • A First Look at the Table Definition
      • Defining Fields (Columns)
      • Defining Keys and Indexes
  • Correlating the New Table with Nodes
  • The Content Creation Form
    • Overriding hook_form() Defaults
    • Adding New hook_form() Form Elements

• Access Controls
• Database Hooks
  • Database Inserts with hook_insert()
  • Updating and Deleting Database Records

• Hooks for Getting Data
  • Loading a Node with hook_load()
  • Preparing the Node for Display with hook_view()

• Theming Biography Content
  • Registering a Theme
  • The biography_info.tpl.php Template
  • The Results

• Summary

• Chapter 8: Filters, Actions, and Hooks
  • The sitenews Module
  • Getting Started
    • Citing Dependencies in the .info File
    • The Beginning of the .module File
  • A Simple Content Type, Defined in Code
  • Creating Filters and an Input Format
    • The Second Filter: Remove All Tags
  • Adding an Input Format

• The Beginning of an Action
  • Implementing hook_action_info()
  • The Action Callback

• Defining a Hook
  • Invoking a Custom Hook
    • So What Is a Hook?
  • Creating a hook_sitenews() Function
  • Implementing hook_sitenews() in Other Modules
    • In the philquotes Module
    • In the biography Module

• Completing the Action: Theming and Mailing
  • Theme Functions
  • The hook_mail() Implementation

• Adding a Trigger
• Summary

• Chapter 9: An Installation Profile
  • Introducing Installation Profiles
    • Why Use Installation Profiles?
  • Setting up a Distribution
    • Creating a Profile Directory
  • Programming Profiles
  • The .profile Script
    • The Details Function
    • The Modules List
  • The Installation Task System
    • The Profile Task
      • A Basic Profile Task
      • A Complex Profile Task
      • Moving to the Next Task
    • Registering a New Task
    • The Theme Selection Form
    • Returning to the philosopherbios_pick_theme Task
      • The Submission Handler
    • Finishing the Installation Profile
  • Packaging the Distribution
  • Summary

• Index

Matt Butcher

Learning Drupal 6 Module Development is the most promising and information-rich resource for Drupal developers interested in creating their own modules and themes.  Michael J. Ross, Web Developer 

"Learning Drupal 6 Module Development" is a well written and easy to understand guide to module development with chapters clearly outlined with learning objectives, code examples and discussion. All in all, this book is money well spent and I'd recommend it to experienced Drupal webmasters, wanting to enhance their website with extra functionality.

Sample chapters

You can view our sample chapters and prefaces of this title on PacktLib or download sample chapters in PDF format.

Find your book in our support section to find errata and to download code samples.