How can I print a views exposed form into a custom block?

Question

I have a page view with exposed filters and would like to print said filters into a custom block in order to add extra html markup above the actual form. This block will be used on other pages using Context.

I know I can create a block by setting 'exposed filters in block' to yes, however that's not the solution I am looking for.

Answer 1

Hours and hours of searching and nothing was working. Several minutes after posting this question, I figured it out. The following code can be used in template files or blocks.

<?php
  $block = module_invoke('views', 'block_view', '-exp-VIEW_NAME-DISPLAY_NAME');
  print render($block['content']);
?>

Answer 2

Its simple take a look at the screenshot.

Answer 3

For Drupal 7:

$view = views_get_view('view_name');
$display_id = 'page'; // Display: page/block
$view->set_display($display_id);
$view->init_handlers();
$form_state = array(
    'view' => $view,
    'display' => $view->display_handler->display,
    'exposed_form_plugin' => $view->display_handler->get_plugin('exposed_form'),
    'method' => 'get',
    'rerender' => TRUE,
    'no_redirect' => TRUE,
    'always_process' => TRUE, // This is important for handle the form status.
);
$form = drupal_build_form('views_exposed_form', $form_state);
print drupal_render($form);

'always_process' is main form state argument for handle the exposed filter form status.

From https://www.drupal.org/node/2854114