Creating a Custom Extension in OpenCart: A Step-by-Step Guide

OpenCart is a popular open-source e-commerce platform that allows you to create online stores quickly and easily. Creating a Custom extension in opencart is needed when you may find that the built-in functionality isn’t enough for your needs. That’s where custom extensions come in. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create your own custom extension in OpenCart, complete with code examples.

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Step 1: Decide on the Extension Type

OpenCart supports various types of extensions, including modules, themes, payment gateways, shipping methods, and more. You’ll need to decide which type of extension you want to create before you begin.

In this example, we’ll create a module that adds a new section to the dashboard where the administrator can view recent orders.

Step 2: Create the Extension Folder

Once you’ve decided on the extension type, you’ll need to create a folder for your extension in the OpenCart directory. For our example, we’ll create a folder called “recent_orders” inside the “admin” folder.

Step 3: Create the Module File

In the “recent_orders” folder, create a new PHP file called “recent_orders.php”. This file will contain the code for our module. Here’s an example of what the code should look like:

<?php

class ControllerExtensionModuleRecentOrders extends Controller {
  public function index() {
    $data = array();

    // Get the 10 most recent orders
    $results = $this->db->query("SELECT * FROM `" . DB_PREFIX . "order` ORDER BY date_added DESC LIMIT 10");

    // Add the results to the data array
    foreach ($results->rows as $result) {
      $data['recent_orders'][] = array(
        'order_id' => $result['order_id'],
        'customer' => $result['firstname'] . ' ' . $result['lastname'],
        'date_added' => $result['date_added'],
        'total' => $this->currency->format($result['total'], $result['currency_code'], $result['currency_value']),
      );
    }

    // Load the template file and pass in the data
    $this->response->setOutput($this->load->view('extension/module/recent_orders', $data));
  }
}

This code defines a new controller class called “ControllerExtensionModuleRecentOrders” that retrieves the 10 most recent orders from the database and passes them to a template file called “recent_orders.twig”. We’ll create this file in the next step.

Step 4: Create the Template File

In the “recent_orders” folder, create a new subfolder called “view”. Inside this folder, create another subfolder called “template”. Finally, create a new file called “recent_orders.twig” inside the “template” folder.

Here’s an example of what the code for this file should look like:

{% if recent_orders %}
  <table>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th>Order ID</th>
        <th>Customer</th>
        <th>Date Added</th>
        <th>Total</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      {% for order in recent_orders %}
        <tr>
          <td>{{ order.order_id }}</td>
          <td>{{ order.customer }}</td>
          <td>{{ order.date_added }}</td>
          <td>{{ order.total }}</td>
        </tr>
      {% endfor %}
    </tbody>
  </table>