depot/README.md

# Depot

## Introduction

This project is also based on the desperation to sort and find my electronic
components. Some integrated circuits (ICs) accumulated in various boxes and
the question of whether I own that or the other IC, had to be painstakingly
researched. Above all, there were at one time several places where components
were stored or partly kept at a plant. 
The idea was born, but it took long time to implement it.
Klosterneuburg, October 2023 Thomas Kuschel KW4NZ.

## Workflow (since 0.0.1)

In git we start to make a new branch named b1_basic_backend, where we start
developing our project. The first run with simply renaming entries from a
copy of the component **com_banners** did not work as expected.
So let us start at the very beginning:

### Adding basic files for component (b1_basic_backend)

With the git branch **b1_basic_backend**
Add the following basic six files:

1. admin

	- src/Extension/DepotComponent.php: The main extension file for the component.
	- services/provider.php: It tells Joomla how to initialize or boot the component.
	- src/Controller/DisplayController.php: The default Controller for the component.
	- src/View/Parts/HtmlView.php: The Html View for the "Parts" page.
	- tmpl/parts/default.php: The layout file for the "Parts" page.
	
2. depot.xml: XML manifest file that tells Joomla! how to install the component.

#### Description of each file:

##### 1. DepotComponent.php
This file contains class for the extension. The class extends MVCComponent.
Compare this version with the original at [Tech Fry Tutorium](https://www.techfry.com/joomla/adding-basic-files-for-component).
```php
namespace KW4NZ\Component\Depot\Administrator\Extension;

use Joomla\CMS\Extension\MVCComponent;

class DepotComponent extends MVCComponent
{

}
```

##### 2. provider.php
This is a special file that tells Joomla how to initialize the component - which
services it requires and how they should be provided.

The service provider file registers dependencies the component will use.
Here, we have included two dependencies:

- **DispatcherFactory** is needed to create the Dispatcher class instance,
	and then Joomla will call dispatch() on this Dispatcher object, as the
	next step in running the component.

- **MVCFactory** is needed to create the Controller, View, Model and Table class
	instances on behalf of the component.


##### 3. DisplayController.php
This is a **default controller** for the component. It simply sets its default
view and leaves the rest to its parent.

When you view the component through URL, Joomla uses the **controller** to execute
the **task**. The task is the name of method in the controller file.
If you do not pass the controller or task in the URL, it defaults to Display
Controller and display Task.

The default view is the name of the component. So, here we need to override the
default view to `parts`.

##### 4. HtmlView.php
This file contains class HtmlView that extends BaseHtmlView. The BaseHtmlView is
the base class for a Joomla View.

The **view gets the data from the model to be output by the layout file.**

For example:
```php
$this->msg = $this->get('Msg');
```

This method converts the get('Msg') call into a getMsg() call on the model, which
is the method which you have to provide in the model.

The view file displays data using the template layout file - $tpl, which defaults
to default.php.

##### 5. default.php
This file holds the template for the page. When no specific layout is
requested for a view, Joomla will load the template in the **default.php** file.

```php
<h2>Welcome to Depot Component!</h2>
```

##### 6. depot.xml
This file tells Joomla how to install the component and what file are included.

In the administration part, we include a link to the menu and include files
and folders (services, src, tmpl and so on) which are in the parent folder
admin of the component. While installing the component, these will get copied
to the Joomla administrator/components/com_depot.

#### Installation the component
Create a **.zip** file of the com_depot directory. Then inside the Joomla
Administration upload this .zip package.

Now you should see a new link "Depot" in the "Compnents" section of the menu.
If you click it, you should see the default "Depot" page.

#### Language files
We create two language files for the system and the component **Depot** at
the directory /admin/language/en-GB/ naming it

- com_depot.ini
- com_depot.sys.ini

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