How to retrieve data from the Joomla DB via jQuery.ajax without controller

Question

I need to retrieve some data from #__virtuemart_order_histories in templates/active_tmpl/html/com_virtuemart/orders/details_history.php via jQuery.ajax. I know that I can do it with a new &task= in controller but is it possible to make the ajax query to the DB in the above file without touching Virtuemart core files?

Answer 1

I've found the following simple solution: to add in .../orders/details_history.php the script:

var response = jQuery.ajax({
  type: "GET",   
  url: "index.php?tmpl=raw&order_id=<?php echo $this->orderdetails['details']['BT']->virtuemart_order_id; ?>",   
  async: false
}).responseText;
alert(response);

and to create the file raw.php in the folder of active template with the query to the DB:

$order_id = $_REQUEST['order_id'];
$db = &JFactory::getDBO();
$query = $db->getQuery(true);
...

Any other better solution will be appreciated

Answer 2

You can create a plugin and use the com_ajax extension for it. Please never, ever use $_REQUEST to receive any data from request. Especially if you are going to use the data for database requests. Please use the JInput object for this.

Answer 3

You can also create a view, in my case named "ajax". All you need to do is create a directory 'ajax' in the view directory. Inside this dir put in the view.html.php containing the display class:

public function display($tpl = null)    {
        //Get post data
        $input = JFactory::getApplication()->input;

        //do whatever you want to to

        echo json_encode($returnData);
        exit;
    }
}

It is important to set the exit; command, which prevents getting template html inside your request.

Inside your jQuery script, call this view with post data like this:

var post_vars = new Array();
post_vars.push({name:'somevar', value:'somevalue'});

var data = jQuery.post('index.php?option=com_mycomponent&view=ajax', post_vars);
data.done(function(reply_data) {
  var response_json = jQuery.parseJSON(reply_data);
  //do whatever you want
});

Answer 4

IMHO, the clearest solution for this situation would be:

adding &format=json to your query, and point it to whatever view you would like

var response = jQuery.ajax({
  type: "GET",   
  url: "index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=order&order_id=<?php echo $this->orderdetails['details']['BT']->virtuemart_order_id; ?>&format=json"
});

Then you need to add view.json.php at components/com_virtuemart/view/order/ and do whatever you need at display() function.