Custom views handler without table

Question

This seemed easy at first but I'm losing my hair on this.

I simply want to add a custom view handler that uses no table.

I tried to do as views php proposed, $data['views']['mycustomfield'] in hook_views_data, but still

mycustomfield colum not found.

Answer 1

Actually its easy. Just look at the implementation Views Global handlers which is available in views.views.inc.

Below is the example how you can add field handler without having a table,

1. Specify your custom handlers in hook_views_data like below,

   /**
    * Implements hook_views_data().
    */
    function my_module_views_data() {
      $data['custom']['table']['group'] = t('Custom');
      $data['custom']['table']['join'] = array(
        // #global is a special flag which let's a table appear all the time.
        '#global' => array(),
      );
   
      $data['custom']['custom_handler'] = array(
        'title' => t('Custom Handler'),
        'help' => t('Custom Handler.'),
        'field' => array(
          'handler' => 'views_handler_custom_handler',
        ),
      );
   
      return $data;
   }
   

2. Create a inc file for your handler an put your logic there. something like below Here the file name would be views_handler_custom_handler.inc

   /**
    * A handler to provide a field that is completely custom by the administrator.
    *
    * @ingroup views_field_handlers
    */
    class views_handler_custom_handler extends views_handler_field {
      function query() {
        // do nothing -- to override the parent query.
      }
   
      function option_definition() {
        $options = parent::option_definition();
   
        // Override the alter text option to always alter the text.
        $options['alter']['contains']['alter_text'] = array('default' => TRUE);
        return $options;
      }
   
      function options_form(&$form, &$form_state) {
        parent::options_form($form, $form_state);
   
        // Remove the checkbox
        unset($form['alter']['alter_text']);
        unset($form['alter']['text']['#dependency']);
        unset($form['alter']['text']['#process']);
      }
   
      function render($values) {
        // Render your content.
        return 'Sample';
      }
   }
   

3. Specify this new handler file in your module's info file

4. Clear the caches

Now the new field handler will be there in the field list.

Answer 2

To be complete: you would need to add hook_views_api too

function my_module_views_api() {
  return array(
    'api' => 3,
    'path' => drupal_get_path('module', 'my_module'),
  );
}