How to get a layout block html in a controller Magento

>> Sometimes we need to update any block through ajax or need to reload a particular block. You can get the html with the following code.

  $this->loadLayout();
  $compareBlock = $this->getLayout()->createBlock('catalog/product_compare_sidebar');
  $compareBlock->setTemplate('catalog/product/compare/sidebar.phtml');
  $html = $compareBlock->toHtml();

Use google map with multiple marker

  => We already aware of google map very well. Here I'll show you how can we show a dynamic map with multiple/single marker in your html page.

•  Single Marker Map :  Here we'll pass the locations with latitude and longitude. see the below code:

                        <script src='https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?v=3.exp'></script>

<div style='overflow:hidden;height:350px;width:100%;'>

 <div id='gmap_holder' style='height:350px;width:100%;'></div>

</div>

<a href='http://www.maps-generator.com/'>maps-generator</a>

<script type='text/javascript' src='https://embedmaps.com/google-maps-authorization/script.js?id=36146cb0ad5227f5dc8c1bfb291b91c0f83c0c6d'></script> 

<script type='text/javascript'>

function init_map() {

var myOptions = {

zoom: 12,

center: new google.maps.LatLng(22.5736132, 88.3483409),

mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP

};

map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('gmap_holder'), myOptions);

marker = new google.maps.Marker({

map: map,

position: new google.maps.LatLng(22.5736132, 88.3483409)

});

infowindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow({

content: '<strong>Jayanta Roy</strong><br>Kolkata, IN<br>'

});

google.maps.event.addListener(marker, 'click', function() {

infowindow.open(map, marker);

});

infowindow.open(map, marker);  // remove it to show the marker on click only

}

google.maps.event.addDomListener(window, 'load', init_map);

</script> 

         Here change the latitude and longitude shown as bold.

         You can get the latitude and longitude of your location here:    http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=YOUR ADDRESS/ZIP&sensor=false

• Multiple Marker Map :  Here we'll create an array of the locations with latitude and longitude. see the below code:

        <script src='https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?v=3.exp'></script>

        <div style='overflow:hidden;height:350px;width:100%;'>

          <div id='gmap_holder' style='height:350px;width:100%;'></div>

        </div>

        <a href='http://www.maps-generator.com/'>maps-generator</a>

        <script type='text/javascript' src='https://embedmaps.com/google-maps-authorization/script.js?id=36146cb0ad5227f5dc8c1bfb291b91c0f83c0c6d'></script> 

        <script type='text/javascript'>

var locations = [

['Jayanta 1', 22.5683534, 88.36157129999999],

['Jayanta 2', 22.5418011, 88.3600216],

['Jayanta 3', 22.5736132, 88.3483409]

];

        function init_map(locations) {

            var myOptions = {

                zoom: 12,

                center: new google.maps.LatLng(22.5736132, 88.3483409),

                mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP

            };

            map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('gmap_holder'), myOptions);

            var infowindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow();

var marker, i;

for (i = 0; i < locations.length; i++) {  

marker = new google.maps.Marker({

map: map,

position: new google.maps.LatLng(locations[i][1], locations[i][2])

});

google.maps.event.addListener(marker, 'click', (function(marker, i) {

return function() {

 infowindow.setContent(locations[i][0]);

 infowindow.open(map, marker);

}

})(marker, i));

infowindow.open(map, marker);

}

        }

        google.maps.event.addDomListener(window, 'load', init_map(locations));

        </script> 

   

How to know the order can ship OR not in Magento

=> In Magento if your order contains virtual and downloadable products then the shipping section in chekout step will hide. For your custom condition you can use the below code:


$quote = Mage::getSingleton('checkout/session')->getQuote();
if($quote->isVirtual()){
echo "No Ship";
}else{
echo "Ship";
}

Generate static block dropdown in System Configuration in Magento

>    First you need to create the system configuration menu. You'll find many tutorial to create system configuration menu. So, in your system.xml you need add a Source Model like "module/system_config_source_cms_block". Now create a directory in your module: YoureModule/Model/System/Config/Source/Cms/Block.php

Now your Block.php looks like below :

<?php
class CompanyName_YourModule_Model_System_Config_Source_Cms_Block
{

    protected $_options;

    public function toOptionArray()
    {
        if (!$this->_options) {

$collection = Mage::getModel('cms/block')->getCollection();
$staticBlock = array(''=>'-- Select Static Block --');
foreach($collection as $block){
$staticBlock[$block->getIdentifier()] = $block->getTitle();
}

            $this->_options = $staticBlock;
        }
        return $this->_options;
    }

}
?>

Refresh cache to see changes.

Magento :: $_product->getAttributes() not working in listing page

     
>>  With the following code every-time you'll get same attributes as it first load the attributes of product and store in a variable. Then from the second time it'll check the variable for the attributes.

        $attributes = $_product->getAttributes();
        foreach ($attributes as $attribute) {
            if ($attribute->getIsVisibleOnFront()) {
                $value = $attribute->getFrontend()->getValue($_product);
                $attributeLabel = $attribute->getFrontendLabel();
                $attributeCode = $attribute->getAttributeCode();
            }
        }
       
        In the above code you'll get the product attribute details and value in listing page if the attribute_set_id for all products in listing page is same. But if the attribute_set_id of all products are different, you need to change your code:
                $attributes = $_product->getAttributes();  
                //Replace this with the following
                $attributes = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->getResource()
                                      ->loadAllAttributes()
                                      ->getSortedAttributes($_product->getAttributeSetId());

get catalog rule applied price of product in Magento

 >> We use to get product price like :
                       $_product->getPrice();
                       $_product->getFinalPrice();
     
      Here you can get the catalog rule applied price like:
            $store_id = Mage::app()->getStore()->getId();
            $discounted_price = Mage::getResourceModel('catalogrule/rule')->getRulePrice(
                                                      Mage::app()->getLocale()->storeTimeStamp($store_id),
                                                      Mage::app()->getStore($store_id)->getWebsiteId(),
                                                      Mage::getSingleton('customer/session')->getCustomerGroupId(),
                                                                      $_product->getId());
               
           
            if ($discountedPrice===false) { // if no rule applied for the product
                $discountedPrice = $_product->getFinalPrice();
            }else{
                $discountedPrice = number_format($discountedPrice,2);
            }

Convert special character to normal character in PHP

   
    > You need to convert special character to normal character. Below are the list of some special character:
   
    $special_chars = array(
        'À','à','Á','á','Â','â','Ã','ã','Ä','ä','Å','å','Ă','ă','Ą','ą',
        'Ć','ć','Č','č','Ç','ç',
        'Ď','ď','Đ','đ',
        'È','è','É','é','Ê','ê','Ë','ë','Ě','ě','Ę','ę',
        'Ğ','ğ',
        'Ì','ì','Í','í','Î','î','Ï','ï',
        'Ĺ','ĺ','Ľ','ľ','Ł','ł',
        'Ñ','ñ','Ň','ň','Ń','ń',
        'Ò','ò','Ó','ó','Ô','ô','Õ','õ','Ö','ö','Ø','ø','ő',
        'Ř','ř','Ŕ','ŕ',
        'Š','š','Ş','ş','Ś','ś',
        'Ť','ť','Ť','ť','Ţ','ţ',
        'Ù','ù','Ú','ú','Û','û','Ü','ü','Ů','ů',
        'Ÿ','ÿ','ý','Ý',
        'Ž','ž','Ź','ź','Ż','ż');
       
         Now try the below code to convert these to normal character :
       
        $text = "éèçâñüÄ";
        $htmlchar = htmlentities($text, ENT_COMPAT, 'UTF-8');  //éèçâñüÄ
        $text = preg_replace("/&([a-z])[a-z]+;/i", "$1", htmlentities($text, ENT_COMPAT, 'UTF-8'));  //eecanuA