Event details
Learn how to get custom functionality using Drupal's hook system, as well as how to extend or alter contributed module functionality. You should have prior experience using custom content types, Views, and Panels to create websites but may have never built your own module. You will start by writing a simple module and work your way into writing a complex module, step by step using Forms API, Schema API, all of the top ten Drupal hooks, and creating custom database tables. You also learn how to insert and extract data using Drupal's core database abstraction layer and modify contributed modules using patches by using best practices, security techniques, conventions and coding standards.
Duration: 2 days
This class is available to the government on GSA Schedule.
Course Outline
Session 1: Extending Drupal with custom code
Drupal as a framework
Your first module: The Red Button
Efficient coding
Introducing MailFish
Session 2: Menus and permissions
Menu System: Defining menu callbacks
The Permissions System
Menu Callback Files (.admin.inc, .pages.inc)
Session 3: Form API (Part 1)
Form System: Drupal Form API and Form Creation
Drupal Variables
Challenge: Using drupal_get_form as a callback
Session 4: Install files
Session 5: Form API (Part 2)
Form Validation and Submission
Session 6: Exploring modules
Session 7: Node operations
Node operations
Session 8: Database system
Database Abstraction Layer
Session 9: Block system and theme system
Theming the MailFish Subscription Block
Session 10: Reporting results
Session 11: Simpletest