Magento how to pass parameters to blocks

Date June 24, 2014 Author By Razvan Mocanu Category Magento how to

Even if the block is inserted via XML or via code, parameters can be passed with the call.

If the block is defined in XML, this is how you pass data for processing in the phtml file:

<block type="core/template" name="block_name" as="block_name" 
       before="-" template="page/html/custom/blocktemplate.phtml">
    <action method="setData">
        <name>currentStep</name><value>2</value>
    </action>
</block>

If the block is inserted via code, here is how you pass the data:

<?php
    echo $this->getLayout()->createBlock('core/template')->setNameInLayout('order_steps')
        ->setData('currentStep', '1')
        ->setTemplate('page/html/custom/order-steps.phtml')->toHtml();
?>

And here is how you access the passed data inside the template:

$this->getData('currentStep');

Let me know if it worked for you.

Tags: block parameters, magento