Mrthdrb

I am very close probably just an XML mistake somewhere. Please assist.

I'm making a custom module.

The directory structure:

In /var/www/html/magento/app/code/mine/MINE

-etc
--config.xml
-Catalog
--Block
---List.php

My config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config> 
 <modules>
 <Mine>
 <version>0.1.0</version>
 </Mine>
 </modules>
<global>
 <blocks>
 <mine>
 <class>Mine_Block</class>
 </mine>
 </blocks>
 </global>
</config>

My List.php

 class Mine_Mage_Catalog_Block_Product_List extends Mage_Catalog_Block_Product_List
 
 protected function _getProductCollection()
 
 $category_id = 3;
 $category2B = $this->getNameInLayout;
 if($category2B =="itemsShoes")
 $category_id = 3; //important
 
 collection = Mage::getSingleton('catalog/category')->load($category_id)
 ->getProductCollection()
 ->addAttributeToSelect('*');

 return collection;
 
 public function zetLoadedProductCollection()
 
 return $this->_getProductCollection();
 
 

My module registry in /var/www/html/magento/app/etc/modules

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!--Mine-->
<config>
 <modules>
 <Mine_Catalog>
 <active>true</active>
 <codePool>mine</codePool>
 </Mine_Catalog>
 </modules>
</config>

It is titled Mine.xml

And finally, my template (slider/shoes.phtml):

<?php
 $_productCollection=$this->zetLoadedProductCollection();
 $_helper = $this->helper('catalog/output');
?>
<?php if(!$_productCollection->count()): ?>
<p class="note-msg"><?php echo $this->__('There are no products matching the selection.') ?></p>
<?php else: 
foreach ($_productCollection as $product) 
 echo $product->getName(); 
 echo "<br />";

?>
<?php endif; ?>

And my local.xml`:

<block type="page/html" name="shoeFinder2" module="mine" template="slider/shoefinder2.phtml">
<block type="mine/list" name="itemsShoes" module="mine" template="slider/shoes.phtml"></block>
<block type="mine/list" name="itemsClothes" module="mine" template="slider/clothes.phtml"></block>
<block type="mine/list" name="itemsTennis" module="mine" template="slider/tennis.phtml"></block>
</block> 

So what am I doing wrong? I don't even get a "There are no products matching the selection." from the getProductCollection() attempt, so I know there is a configuration error rather than a collection error.

I just get an empty div.

I think you are fetching category in your custom page then your declartion should be as below

<block type="catalog/product_list" name="itemsShoes" category_id="4" module="Mine" template="slider/shoes.phtml"></block>

here 4 is your category Id

and yes you have to change your block type as yours this catalog/product_list will point Mage_Catalog_Block_Product_List

There are lot of mistakes.

First of all I will start with naming the module.

Change this /var/www/html/magento/app/code/mine/MINE to /var/www/html/magento/app/code/community/Mine/MyMine. Remember, we are placing your extension in app/code/community folder. You can usually place in community or local.

Now, your folder/file structure:

Mine/MyMine/etc/config.xml
Mine/MyMine/Block/List.php

Your config.xml should be like this:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config> 
 <modules>
 <Mine_MyMine>
 <version>0.1.0</version>
 </Mine_MyMine>
 </modules>
 <global>
 <blocks>
 <mine>
 <class>Mine_MyMine_Block</class>
 </mine>
 </blocks>
 </global>
</config>

Your List.php (You shouldn't use Mage in naming your module, Mage should be reserved for core.) And it should reside this way app/code/community/Mine/MyMine/Block/Product/List.php

class Mine_MyMine_Block_Product_List extends Mage_Catalog_Block_Product_List

 protected function _getProductCollection()
 
 $category_id = 3;
 $category2B = $this->getNameInLayout;
 if($category2B =="itemsShoes")
 $category_id = 3; //important
 
 collection = Mage::getSingleton('catalog/category')->load($category_id)
 ->getProductCollection()
 ->addAttributeToSelect('*');

 return collection;
 
 public function zetLoadedProductCollection()
 
 return $this->_getProductCollection();
 

Most importantly your module activation in /var/www/html/magento/app/etc/modules

true
community

Finally, your local.xml

<block type="page/html" name="shoeFinder2" module="mine" template="slider/shoefinder2.phtml">
<block type="mine/product_list" name="itemsShoes" module="mine" template="slider/shoes.phtml"></block>
<block type="mine/product_list" name="itemsClothes" module="mine" template="slider/clothes.phtml"></block>
<block type="mine/product_list" name="itemsTennis" module="mine" template="slider/tennis.phtml"></block>

You haven't fully included your local.xml here, so there should be more logic in it to get it work, since you are not overwriting Mage_Catalog_Block_Product_List block.

This should help.