Magento how to define layout handle for all controller - magento

Question

Im looking for solution to define layout handle for whole controller insteat of controller_action. For example i want to define:
<mymodule_index></mymodule_index>
instead of
<mymodule_index_index></mymodule_index_index>
<mymodule_index_someaction></mumodule_index_someaction>
Thanks.

Answer 1

You can add a layout handle by running this :
$update = $this->getLayout()->getUpdate();
$update->addHandle('mymodule_index')
You can then add this piece of code to a protected "_initHandles" function within your controller that you would run for every action.

Answer 2

In my controller I've (re)implemented this method
public function loadLayout($handles = null, $generateBlocks = true, $generateXml = true)
{
return parent::loadLayout(array('default','mymodule_index'),$generateBlocks,$generateXml);
}
which will add an update handle called mymodule_index (not loosing the default one) for every controller's action.
You'll need to call loadLayout() in every controller's action, but that's how magento works...

Answer 3

please try below code....
public function indexAction(){
{
...
$update = $this->getLayout()->getUpdate();
$update->addHandle('mymodule_index');
$this->loadLayoutUpdates();
$this->generateLayoutXml()->generateLayoutBlocks();
$this->renderLayout();
}
public function samelocationAction(){
{
...
$update = $this->getLayout()->getUpdate();
$update->addHandle('mymodule_index');
$this->loadLayoutUpdates();
$this->generateLayoutXml()->generateLayoutBlocks();
$this->renderLayout();
}

Answer 4

I've found solution. In each next update you must provide <update handle="" /> like this:
<companies_catalog>
<label>Companies (All Pages)</label>
<reference name="root">
<action method="setTemplate"><template>page/2columns-left.phtml</template></action>
</reference>
<reference name="left">
<block type="businesscategory/companies_navigation" name="companies.navigation" before="-" template="businesscategory/companies/navigation.phtml" />
</reference>
</companies_catalog>
<companies_catalog_index>
<label>Companies (All Pages)</label>
<update handle="companies_catalog" />
<reference name="content">
<block type="businesscategory/companies_list" name="companies.list" template="businesscategory/companies/list.phtml" />
</reference>
</companies_catalog_index>
<companies_catalog_view>
<label>Company page</label>
<update handle="companies_catalog" />
<reference name="content">
<block type="businesscategory/companies_view" name="company.info" template="businesscategory/companies/view.phtml" />
</reference>
</companies_catalog_view>