I am new to the Drupal way of doing things and I've looked through a lot of docs pertaining to modules (and worked through a couple tutorials) but I'm still confused. Basically my main concern right now is that I can set up a node module (no block needed right now) and set up the settings function so that an admin user can change certain settings in the control panel. I don't really need all the advanced function hooks, just the basics plus the settings hook. What function hook do you use if you don't set up the module as a block?
Also can you point me in the right direction as to what docs I need to be reading first. Maybe a priority list? My first concern is learning how to make custom modules and how to port my code from other systems into Drupal. I really like tutorials the best, so if you know really good tutorials I'd be interested. I've worked through the onthisdate module but that is defined as a block and I want my module to be a regular block.
Anyways thanks for you help.
Jay
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Basically I want to create a page where I display real estate listings from another database. So one page would be a search form, and would post information to this module which would return a page with listings. I want to be able to let the admin change some settings, like for example the disclaimer at the bottom of the page with be able to be customized.
I realize I could just make a php page but I want this to be available for may realtor sites and also to be configurable in administrator settings.
if you know PHP and some
if you know PHP and some MySQL I see no problem for you.
just go through this tutorial
http://drupal.org/node/508 (if you didn't it already ?)
you will understand how to set block and node module, and how to create settings menu and how to use this settings(variables values) in your module.
I could try to explain you in my own way how to do this, but this tutorial is really good to understand (in about 15-40 min you will be ready). This will be a good startpoint for developing modules, the rest you could learn by looking at sources of other modules. Or I misunderstood you ? anyway
Good Luck & Have Fun with programming :)
thanks
I've since then reread the tutorial and now I'm on board. That's not too hard. I want to be able to use a template though for my modules. How do I do that?
here some direct links I've
here some direct links I've found, because I am about to create some simple modules too(I am not experienced Drupal user).
http://drupal.org/node/40684
http://drupal.org/node/22573
if all that was not enough help, you could as always try to look @ source code of existing modules and see how it is made in drupal way and try to apply same to your modules (just an idea).
node_example from drupaldocs.org
I think this may be in the tutorials, but I almost always use this as a templae for my custom nodes:
http://drupaldocs.org/api/4.6/file/contributions/docs/developer/examples...
There is also some other examples of the nodeapi and such. Just use the function search for "example"