Joomla onExtensionAfterSave event

Question

I am developing a component extension to create different forms for insurance.

When I create a form in backend and save it by clicking the Save or Save & Close button, I am going to create a table in database. The suitable event could be onExtensionAfterSave event in a plugin belonging to group Extension.

Now the question is this: I saw two different samples of this method:

1. onExtensionAfterSave($data, $isNew)
2. onExtensionAfterSave($context, &$table, $isNew)

Which is the right one?

Also to obtain paremeters, Can I use JPlugin::params (params to my extension in the backend that are already created and saved to database)?

Answer 1

onExtensionAfterSave isn't a common Joomla event - It only fires when the component/module/plugin configuration is saved. Example, editing Joomla global configuration, editing the options of a component, editing the options of a module, editing the options of a plugin. I've been writing extensions for years and I've never used that event - because it just isn't useful.

I think you picked the wrong event.

It won't fire on creating a form within your component unless you've written your component to fire that event. And if you did, I'd suggest picking a different event - like onContentAfterSave, which is designed to do what you're asking for.

If it's your own component (that you're writing) - you might consider creating your own set of events to monitor. Joomla is designed to do this. I did this in one of my own components to monitor a dozen different events related to CBT training.

When you're working with your own events, you can define whatever you want to send to the plugin. In my events, most take only one variable - an ID. The plugin retrieves the data based on that ID and does whatever it's designed to do.

Step 1, choose a unique type to name your plugin folder: /plugins/YOURNEWTYPE/

Step 2, make a test plugin to define and test your events.

Step 3, load the plugins and create a dispatcher in your component to fire your custom event whenever you need it.

It's super easy.

Answer 2

The event is useful when you need custom code to be executed after saving an extension configuration. I use it in one of my templates to change favicon and logo when the color theme is changed.

onExtensionAfterSave($option, $data)

$option (string) where the plugin is called from. For a template this would be "com_templates.style".

$data (object) for a template this contains the matching row in table #__template_styles after saving, you can get the template params through json_decode($data->params).