layout.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--
	All layout files will be merged together into one big xml structure

	Add new files to be merged be configuring them in config.xml under
	config/frontend/layout/updates/<customKey>/file: filename
-->
<layout version="0.1.0"><!-- root node -->
	<!-- TODO: what effect has "version"? -->

	<default translate="label" module="page">
		<!--
			This is the default handle that is always loaded. Most configuration that is valid for all parts of the
			shop will be configured here
		-->

		<!-- TODO: describe attributes label and module -->

		<!--
			Basic directives
			- block: Block declaration
			- action: Allows to call any method from target block
			- reference: Reference's content will be merged into target block. Attribute "name" specifies the referenced block name
			- update: merge to the current handle all directives from target handle
			- remove: set ignore flag for the target block
			- label: (used in adminhtml only?)
		-->

		<block type="page/html" name="root" output="toHtml" template="page/3columns.phtml">

			<!--
				Required attributes for the <block>:
				- type/class	Block class name, which used for factory method
				- name			A name by which other blocks can make reference to this block

				Optional attributes:
				- as			Block alias name
				- parent		Parent block name. Used for adding current block into specified parent block (can also be done using nesting)
				- output		Method for block output rendering. E.g. "toHtml"
				 				TODO: what other values are possible here?

				For core/test_list parent blocks
				- before		Block name or "-". Used for adding current block before the block specified
				- after			Block name or "-". Used for adding current block after the block specified

				For core/template parent blocks
				- template		Template (*.phtml) file path
			-->

			<!--
				Difference between name and alias
				The alias must be unique inside the parent block.

				$this->getLayout()->getBlock($name);
				$this->getLayout()->getBlock(...)->getChild($alias);
			-->

			<!-- Blocks can be nested: -->
			<block type="page/html_head" name="head" as="head">

				<!--
					Actions directive

					@see Mage_Core_Model_Layout::_generateAction()
				-->

				<!--
					Will result in:

					$block = Mage::app()->getLayout()->createBlock('page/html_head', 'head');
					if (Mage::getStoreConfigFlag('dev/js/deprecation')) {
						$block->addJs('prototype/deprecation.js');
					}
				-->
				<action method="addJs" ifconfig="dev/js/deprecation">
					<!--
						Required attribute
						- method		block method name

						Optional attributes
						- translate		attribute used for method arguments translation
						- module		Module name used to instantiate helper for translation. Defaults to Mage_Core
						- helper		helper name with helper method
						- json			json values which need to be decoded
						- ifconfig		check configuration first
					-->

					<!--
						TODO: add example for json processing
					-->
					<param1>prototype/deprecation.js</param1>
					<!--
						<tag>-enclosed text nodes inside <action> will be passed in order to the method. The name of the
						tag is not of any importance. Add empty tags if you need to skip a parameter.
					-->
				</action>

				<!--
					Will result in

					$block->setFooArray(
						'foo',
						array(
							'key1' => 'value1',
							'key2' => 'value2',
						)
					);
				-->
				<action method="setFooArray">
					<param1>foo</param1>
					<param2>
						<key1>value1</key1><!-- Tag name will be used as array key -->
						<key2>value2</key2>
					</param2>
				</action>

			</block>

			<!--
				Remove directive

				Once a block has been removed it won't be rendered anywhere for this request.

				Note: compare to unsetChild
			-->
			<remove name="right" />

		</block>

		<!--
			Action can also be configured outside blocks:
			TODO: how to refer to parent block?
		-->
		<action method="addJs" >
			<param1>prototype/deprecation.js</param1>
		</action>

		<!--
			Referencing another block and add configuration to that one
		-->
		<reference name="left">

		</reference>


	</default>



	<!-- ===============================
		Dynamic handles
	================================ -->

	<!--
		Store specific:

		@see Mage_Core_Controller_Varien_Action::addActionLayoutHandles()
		'STORE_'.Mage::app()->getStore()->getCode()
	-->
	<STORE_code>

	</STORE_code>

	<!--
		Theme specific

		@see Mage_Core_Controller_Varien_Action::addActionLayoutHandles()
		'THEME_'.$package->getArea().'_'.$package->getPackageName().'_'.$package->getTheme('layout')
	-->
	<THEME_area_package_theme><!-- e.g. THEME_frontend_base_default -->

	</THEME_area_package_theme>


	<!--
		Full action name

		@see Mage_Core_Controller_Varien_Action::addActionLayoutHandles()
		strtolower($this->getFullActionName())
	-->
	<full_action_name><!-- e.g. catalog_category_view -->

	</full_action_name>


</layout>