Views may benefit from ability to customize standard structures, much like Forms API allows for forms.

For example, creating and using core Views patches (like my recent one http://drupal.org/node/94184) should not require hacking core and/or waiting on a submitted patch to be reviewed and accepted.

My suggestion is to add hooks to allow modules modify core Views structures, including tables, arguments, etc.

On another note, already existing Views hooks need better documentation.

Comments

dkruglyak’s picture

dkruglyak commented
Title: Need alter hooks for Views » Documentation for using 'dummy' tables
Component: Code » Documentation

I found that the way to get this 'alter' behavior is by creating dummy tables and excluding these tables from appearing in (and breaking) actual SQL by dropping 'join' element and adding 'notafield' => TRUE for every field.

This works, but I wish there was a HOW-TO to save time. We need a doc on using dummy tables for extending views features.

merlinofchaos’s picture

merlinofchaos commented

Yes. Unfortunately the Views' API documentation has not been updated in a LONG time, and so many, many features have gone undocumented. I've had so many projects that I just never get back to doing the documentation (again).

dkruglyak’s picture

dkruglyak commented

I hear you. The more important thing is that the code itself works!

merlinofchaos’s picture

merlinofchaos commented

There's a bunch of new documentation at http://drupal.org/handbook/modules/views/api -- do you think that sufficiently explains things such that it's more clear that dummy tables can work?

dkruglyak’s picture

dkruglyak commented

Looks like a good start. I think at this point the devil is in details. Now I am back to working on my views and may report minor issues as they suface. Note this forum post: http://drupal.org/node/105396

Case #1: 'option' for fields is not documented. I copied the code for select form element (from one of core views modules), but when tried to set #multiple it did not work. I could not find the documentation for field options to see if it is supported.

In any case, I think it should be possible to use any supported Form API for options anywhere (fields and filters).

merlinofchaos’s picture

merlinofchaos commented

'option' is documented here: http://drupal.org/node/99565

Though it turns out the link is incorrect as I originally had that as all one document. That must be changed.

'option' for fields should work exactly the same as it does for arguments, filters and sort criteria.

moshe weitzman’s picture

moshe weitzman commented

FYI, I proposed a patch that allows modules to alter tables and arguments - http://drupal.org/node/105620

catch’s picture

catch
he/him
Primary language English
commented
Status: Active » Closed (won't fix)

I believe this is in Views 2.