DeveloperGuidelines

How to add a new module?

The Eden Book has a tutorial for ​adding a new module. However, it is simplified from the normal way modules are included in Eden. Especially, the model file differs.

Settings

Add your module to settings.modules in private/templates/<template>/config.py if it is for a specific template.

Add it to private/templates/default/config.py to provide an example of how your module should be entered in settings.modules.

Model

Create a file modules/s3db/<MODULE NAME>.py

Add an import statement to models/00_tables.py:

import s3db.<MODULE NAME>

For each major "resource" in your module, add a class that is a subclass of S3Model. The class must define a model() method that defines the tables for that resource. The class can define multiple tables, for other resources associated with the major resource. For instance, if you have a major resource representing a vehicle, you might want a table to represent types of vehicles, so users can add new types without changing the code. The main table for specific vehicles and the table for types can go in the same model class.

To avoid namespace clashes, use your module name as a prefix for table names. Follow with underscore and the name of the resource your table represents: <MODULE NAME>_<RESOURCE>. Resource names should be unique.

E.g. if building a Vehicle Management System, create s3db.vms_vehicle:

module = "vms"
resource = "vehicle"

tablename = "%s_%s" % (module, resource)
table = s3db.define_table(tablename,
                Field("name"),
                *s3_meta_fields())
table.uuid.requires = IS_NOT_IN_DB(db, "%s.uuid" % table)
table.name.requires = IS_NOT_EMPTY()
table.name.comment = SPAN("*", _class="req")

Controller

Create a file: /controllers/<MODULE NAME>.py

Add CRUD functions for your tables:

module = request.controller

def vehicle():
    "RESTful CRUD controller"
    resource = request.function
    return s3_rest_controller(module, resource)

Manual method for if/when you need more control: DeveloperGuidelinesCreateReadUpdateDelete

Add the messages for your resources:

def vehicle():
    "RESTful CRUD controller"
    resource = request.function
    s3.crud_strings[tablename] = Storage(
        title_create = T("Add Vehicle"),
        title_display = T("Vehicle Details"),
        title_list = T("List Vehicles"),
        title_update = T("Edit Vehicle"),
        title_search = T("Search Vehicles"),
        subtitle_create = T("Add New Vehicle"),
        subtitle_list = T("Vehicles"),
        label_list_button = T("List Vehicles"),
        label_create_button = T("Add Vehicle"),
        label_delete_button = T("Delete Vehicle"),
        msg_record_created = T("Vehicle added"),
        msg_record_modified = T("Vehicle updated"),
        msg_record_deleted = T("Vehicle deleted"),
        msg_list_empty = T("No Vehicles currently registered"))

    return s3_rest_controller(module, resource)

Add a menu:

# Options Menu (available in all Functions' Views)
response.menu_options = [
    [T("Home"), False, URL(f="index")],
    [T("Add Vehicle"), False, URL(f="vehicle", args="create")],
    [T("List Vehicles"), False, URL(f="vehicle")],
    [T("Search Vehicles"), False, URL(f="vehicle", args="search")]
]

Views

Add HTML templates for any custom functions: /views/<MODULE NAME>/<FUNCTION NAME>.html

NB Only index.html is required to start with since the RESTful controller normally re-uses standard views.
If Custom Views are wanted they are detected automatically if files are found in /views/<MODULE NAME>/<RESOURCE>_<METHOD>.html

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DeveloperGuidelines