PHP-based page block: you can make it!

In this post I want to teach you how to create a PHP block on a page.

For example, you want to create a block displaying the membership level of the profile you're viewing.

1) First, you will have to create a simple HTML block. Navigate to '''Builders -> Pages Blocks''' and choose '''Profile''' from the '''Pages''' frop-down list. This is because we want to see this block on the profile page.

Drag the '''HTML Block''' from the '''Samples''' area to either of the columns in the '''Active Blocks''' area and place it under any block (for example under '''Photo Albums''' in the first column).

Now click the '''HTML Block''' you have just dragged. A small window will appear. In this window, you will have to create a language key for this block's '''Caption''' (for example '''_My Membership Type''' - notice that all language keys must have leading underscores).

Then make this block visible or invisible to '''Guests''' or '''Members''' by clicking or un-clicking the corresponding checkboxes.

And now enter any text in the field '''HTML-content'''. This text will not be used, so you can type anything here.

Press '''Save'''.

2) Now let's create the string for the key '''_My Membership Type'''. Navigate to '''Settings -> Language Settings''' and click the '''Add key''' button in the block '''Manage Keys'''.

In the window that will appear, enter the key name '''_My Membership Type''', choose its category, for example '''Boonex Profiler''' and type the corresponding strings for all installed languages, for example '''My Membership Type''' will be used for the English language. Now '''Save''' the window.

3) Ok. Now comes the most interesting part - you will have to turn this HTML block into a PHP block. This can be done in the database, so open phpMyAdmin (I assume once again that you know how to use it) and find the table '''sys_page_compose'''.

In this table you will have to search for the record corresponding to the block you have just created. Just search for its caption which will be '''_My Membership Type'''.

Now edit this record: change the value of the '''Func''' column into '''PHP''' instead of '''Echo'''. And enter your desired PHP code in the column '''Content'''. In our case this code will be:

echo GetMembershipStatus($this->oProfileGen->_iProfileID);

Now save the record (click '''Go''').

4) Now you will only have to recompile the block by moving it a little bit in '''Builders -> Pages Blocks -> Profile'''. And you should of course clean the cache: '''Admin Home -> Cache -> Clean All'''

5) Navigate to someone's profile and enjoy the result.