XOOPS Module System

The XOOPS Module System provides a complete framework for developing, installing, managing, and extending module functionality. Modules are self-contained packages that extend XOOPS with additional features and capabilities.

Module Architecture

graph TD
    A[Module Package] -->|contains| B[xoops_version.php]
    A -->|contains| C[Admin Interface]
    A -->|contains| D[User Interface]
    A -->|contains| E[Class Files]
    A -->|contains| F[SQL Schema]

    B -->|defines| G[Module Metadata]
    B -->|defines| H[Admin Pages]
    B -->|defines| I[User Pages]
    B -->|defines| J[Blocks]
    B -->|defines| K[Hooks]

    L[Module Manager] -->|reads| B
    L -->|controls| M[Installation]
    L -->|controls| N[Activation]
    L -->|controls| O[Update]
    L -->|controls| P[Uninstallation]

Module Structure

Standard XOOPS module directory structure:

mymodule/
├── xoops_version.php          # Module manifest and configuration
├── admin.php                  # Admin main page
├── index.php                  # User main page
├── admin/                     # Admin pages directory
│   ├── main.php
│   ├── manage.php
│   └── settings.php
├── class/                     # Module classes
│   ├── Handler/
│   │   ├── ItemHandler.php
│   │   └── CategoryHandler.php
│   └── Objects/
│       ├── Item.php
│       └── Category.php
├── sql/                       # Database schemas
│   ├── mysql.sql
│   └── postgres.sql
├── include/                   # Include files
│   ├── common.inc.php
│   └── functions.php
├── templates/                 # Module templates
│   ├── admin/
│   │   └── main.tpl
│   └── user/
│       ├── index.tpl
│       └── item.tpl
├── blocks/                    # Module blocks
│   └── blocks.php
├── tests/                     # Unit tests
├── language/                  # Language files
│   ├── english/
│   │   └── main.php
│   └── spanish/
│       └── main.php
└── docs/                      # Documentation

XoopsModule Class

The XoopsModule class represents an installed XOOPS module.

Class Overview

namespace Xoops\Core\Module;

class XoopsModule extends XoopsObject
{
    protected int $moduleid = 0;
    protected string $name = '';
    protected string $dirname = '';
    protected string $version = '';
    protected string $description = '';
    protected array $config = [];
    protected array $blocks = [];
    protected array $adminPages = [];
    protected array $userPages = [];
}

Properties

Property	Type	Description
$moduleid	int	Unique module ID
$name	string	Module display name
$dirname	string	Module directory name
$version	string	Current module version
$description	string	Module description
$config	array	Module configuration
$blocks	array	Module blocks
$adminPages	array	Admin panel pages
$userPages	array	User-facing pages

Constructor

public function __construct()

Creates a new module instance and initializes variables.

Core Methods

getName

Gets the module’s display name.

public function getName(): string

Returns: string - Module display name

Example:

$module = new XoopsModule();
$module->setVar('name', 'Publisher');
echo $module->getName(); // "Publisher"

getDirname

Gets the module’s directory name.

public function getDirname(): string

Returns: string - Module directory name

Example:

echo $module->getDirname(); // "publisher"

getVersion

Gets the current module version.

public function getVersion(): string

Returns: string - Version string

Example:

echo $module->getVersion(); // "2.1.0"

getDescription

Gets the module description.

public function getDescription(): string

Returns: string - Module description

Example:

$desc = $module->getDescription();

getConfig

Retrieves module configuration.

public function getConfig(string $key = null): mixed

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
$key	string	Configuration key (null for all)

Returns: mixed - Configuration value or array

Example:

$config = $module->getConfig();
$itemsPerPage = $module->getConfig('items_per_page');

setConfig

Sets module configuration.

public function setConfig(string $key, mixed $value): void

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
$key	string	Configuration key
$value	mixed	Configuration value

Example:

$module->setConfig('items_per_page', 20);
$module->setConfig('enable_cache', true);

getPath

Gets the full file system path to the module.

public function getPath(): string

Returns: string - Absolute module directory path

Example:

$path = $module->getPath(); // "/var/www/xoops/modules/publisher"
$classPath = $module->getPath() . '/class';

getUrl

Gets the URL to the module.

public function getUrl(): string

Returns: string - Module URL

Example:

$url = $module->getUrl(); // "http://example.com/modules/publisher"

Module Installation Process

xoops_module_install Function

The module installation function defined in xoops_version.php:

function xoops_module_install_modulename($module)
{
    // $module is an XoopsModule instance

    // Create database tables
    // Initialize default configuration
    // Create default folders
    // Set up file permissions

    return true; // Success
}

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
$module	XoopsModule	The module being installed

Returns: bool - True on success, false on failure

Example:

function xoops_module_install_publisher($module)
{
    // Get module path
    $modulePath = $module->getPath();

    // Create uploads directory
    $uploadsPath = XOOPS_ROOT_PATH . '/uploads/publisher';
    if (!is_dir($uploadsPath)) {
        mkdir($uploadsPath, 0755, true);
    }

    // Get database connection
    global $xoopsDB;

    // Execute SQL installation script
    $sqlFile = $modulePath . '/sql/mysql.sql';
    if (file_exists($sqlFile)) {
        $sqlQueries = file_get_contents($sqlFile);
        // Execute queries (simplified)
        $xoopsDB->queryFromFile($sqlFile);
    }

    // Set default configuration
    $module->setConfig('items_per_page', 10);
    $module->setConfig('enable_comments', true);

    return true;
}

xoops_module_uninstall Function

The module uninstallation function:

function xoops_module_uninstall_modulename($module)
{
    // Drop database tables
    // Remove uploaded files
    // Clean up configuration

    return true;
}

Example:

function xoops_module_uninstall_publisher($module)
{
    global $xoopsDB;

    // Drop tables
    $tables = ['publisher_items', 'publisher_categories', 'publisher_comments'];
    foreach ($tables as $table) {
        $xoopsDB->query('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ' . $xoopsDB->prefix($table));
    }

    // Remove upload folder
    $uploadsPath = XOOPS_ROOT_PATH . '/uploads/publisher';
    if (is_dir($uploadsPath)) {
        // Recursive directory deletion
        $this->recursiveRemoveDir($uploadsPath);
    }

    return true;
}

Module Hooks

Module hooks allow modules to integrate with other modules and the system.

Hook Declaration

In xoops_version.php:

$modversion['hooks'] = [
    'system.page.footer' => [
        'function' => 'publisher_page_footer'
    ],
    'user.profile.view' => [
        'function' => 'publisher_user_articles'
    ],
];

Hook Implementation

// In a module file (e.g., include/hooks.php)

function publisher_page_footer()
{
    // Return HTML for footer
    return '<div class="publisher-footer">Publisher Footer Content</div>';
}

function publisher_user_articles($user_id)
{
    global $xoopsDB;

    // Get user's articles
    $result = $xoopsDB->query(
        'SELECT * FROM ' . $xoopsDB->prefix('publisher_articles') .
        ' WHERE author_id = ? ORDER BY published DESC LIMIT 5',
        [$user_id]
    );

    $articles = [];
    while ($row = $xoopsDB->fetchAssoc($result)) {
        $articles[] = $row;
    }

    return $articles;
}

Available System Hooks

Hook	Parameters	Description
system.page.header	None	Page header output
system.page.footer	None	Page footer output
user.login.success	$user object	After user login
user.logout	$user object	After user logout
user.profile.view	$user_id	Viewing user profile
module.install	$module object	Module installation
module.uninstall	$module object	Module uninstallation

Module Manager Service

The ModuleManager service handles module operations.

Methods

getModule

Retrieves a module by name.

public function getModule(string $dirname): ?XoopsModule

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
$dirname	string	Module directory name

Returns: ?XoopsModule - Module instance or null

Example:

$moduleManager = $kernel->getService('module');
$publisher = $moduleManager->getModule('publisher');
if ($publisher) {
    echo $publisher->getName();
}

getAllModules

Gets all installed modules.

public function getAllModules(bool $activeOnly = true): array

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
$activeOnly	bool	Only return active modules

Returns: array - Array of XoopsModule objects

Example:

$activeModules = $moduleManager->getAllModules(true);
foreach ($activeModules as $module) {
    echo $module->getName() . " - " . $module->getVersion() . "\n";
}

isModuleActive

Checks if a module is active.

public function isModuleActive(string $dirname): bool

Example:

if ($moduleManager->isModuleActive('publisher')) {
    // Publisher module is active
}

activateModule

Activates a module.

public function activateModule(string $dirname): bool

Example:

if ($moduleManager->activateModule('publisher')) {
    echo "Publisher activated";
}

deactivateModule

Deactivates a module.

public function deactivateModule(string $dirname): bool

Example:

if ($moduleManager->deactivateModule('publisher')) {
    echo "Publisher deactivated";
}

Module Configuration (xoops_version.php)

Complete module manifest example:

<?php
/**
 * Module manifest for Publisher
 */

$modversion = [
    'name' => 'Publisher',
    'version' => '2.1.0',
    'description' => 'Professional content publishing module',
    'author' => 'XOOPS Community',
    'credits' => 'Based on original work by...',
    'license' => 'GPL v2',
    'official' => 1,
    'image' => 'images/logo.png',
    'dirname' => 'publisher',
    'onInstall' => 'xoops_module_install_publisher',
    'onUpdate' => 'xoops_module_update_publisher',
    'onUninstall' => 'xoops_module_uninstall_publisher',

    // Admin pages
    'hasAdmin' => 1,
    'adminindex' => 'admin/main.php',
    'adminmenu' => [
        [
            'title' => 'Dashboard',
            'link' => 'admin/main.php',
            'icon' => 'dashboard.png'
        ],
        [
            'title' => 'Manage Items',
            'link' => 'admin/items.php',
            'icon' => 'items.png'
        ],
        [
            'title' => 'Settings',
            'link' => 'admin/settings.php',
            'icon' => 'settings.png'
        ]
    ],

    // User pages
    'hasMain' => 1,
    'main_file' => 'index.php',

    // Blocks
    'blocks' => [
        [
            'file' => 'blocks/recent.php',
            'name' => 'Recent Articles',
            'description' => 'Display recent published articles',
            'show_func' => 'publisher_recent_show',
            'edit_func' => 'publisher_recent_edit',
            'options' => '5|0|0',
            'template' => 'publisher_block_recent.tpl'
        ],
        [
            'file' => 'blocks/featured.php',
            'name' => 'Featured Articles',
            'description' => 'Display featured articles',
            'show_func' => 'publisher_featured_show',
            'edit_func' => 'publisher_featured_edit'
        ]
    ],

    // Module hooks
    'hooks' => [
        'system.page.footer' => [
            'function' => 'publisher_page_footer'
        ],
        'user.profile.view' => [
            'function' => 'publisher_user_articles'
        ]
    ],

    // Configuration items
    'config' => [
        [
            'name' => 'items_per_page',
            'title' => '_MI_PUBLISHER_ITEMS_PER_PAGE',
            'description' => '_MI_PUBLISHER_ITEMS_PER_PAGE_DESC',
            'formtype' => 'text',
            'valuetype' => 'int',
            'default' => '10'
        ],
        [
            'name' => 'enable_comments',
            'title' => '_MI_PUBLISHER_ENABLE_COMMENTS',
            'description' => '_MI_PUBLISHER_ENABLE_COMMENTS_DESC',
            'formtype' => 'yesno',
            'valuetype' => 'int',
            'default' => '1'
        ]
    ]
];

function xoops_module_install_publisher($module)
{
    // Installation logic
    return true;
}

function xoops_module_update_publisher($module)
{
    // Update logic
    return true;
}

function xoops_module_uninstall_publisher($module)
{
    // Uninstallation logic
    return true;
}

Best Practices

1. Namespace Your Classes - Use module-specific namespaces to avoid conflicts

2. Use Handlers - Always use handler classes for database operations

3. Internationalize Content - Use language constants for all user-facing strings

4. Create Installation Scripts - Provide SQL schemas for database tables

5. Document Hooks - Clearly document what hooks your module provides

6. Version Your Module - Increment version numbers with releases

7. Test Installation - Thoroughly test install/uninstall processes

8. Handle Permissions - Check user permissions before allowing actions

Complete Module Example

<?php
/**
 * Custom Article Module Main Page
 */

include __DIR__ . '/include/common.inc.php';

// Get module instance
$module = xoops_getModuleByDirname('mymodule');

// Check if module is active
if (!$module) {
    die('Module not found');
}

// Get module configuration
$itemsPerPage = $module->getConfig('items_per_page');

// Get item handler
$itemHandler = xoops_getModuleHandler('item', 'mymodule');

// Fetch items with pagination
$criteria = new CriteriaCompo();
$criteria->add(new Criteria('status', 1));
$items = $itemHandler->getObjects($criteria, $itemsPerPage);

// Prepare template
$xoopsTpl->assign('items', $items);
$xoopsTpl->assign('module_name', $module->getName());
$xoopsTpl->display($module->getPath() . '/templates/user/index.tpl');

Related Documentation

• ../Kernel/Kernel-Classes - Kernel initialization and core services
• ../Template/Template-System - Module templates and theme integration
• ../Database/QueryBuilder - Database query building
• ../Core/XoopsObject - Base object class

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See also: XOOPS Module Development Guide