Views & custom exposed filters : where do I start?

Question

I've got this module which makes an additional field available when you base the view on Users. The field is made available through hook_views_data().

I've created a filter for this field, and it should be exposed to users. However, what I would really like to do is to create a custom filter. That is, a very custom form with some specialised options which the user can choose between.

How do I go about doing this? How do I tell Views that I've got this custom exposed filter. I know hook_views_plugins has something to do with this, but I can't find any place which describes the general picture of how things interact. Does anyone have any experience with this; and how things work together and which pieces I need to solve the "puzzle"?

Any input appreciated!

Answer 1

I guess the best place to start is to look at the way some other module is doing it. Or how views itself does it for some core module :) (i.e. taxonomy or user. There is at least 3 things you have to do :

1. tell views you have something for it
2. provide it :)
3. tell drupal to load it

the telling can be done by implementing :

• hook_views_data in case you define an entire field, or
• hook_field_views_data_views_data_alter (no doc if i get it right) if you want to change someone elses field filtering

create a directory views, place a file called your_module.views.inc in it and put the hooks there.

then create a file with a class that will extend the filter

and include that file in the modules info file

dont forget to refresh cache and that should be it :)