How to load plugins with modules

Question

I have this plugin in the plugins directory within the admin module directory. So, it is in application/modules/admin/plugins/LayoutPlugin.php:

<?php
class LayoutPlugin extends Zend_Controller_Plugin_Abstract
{
   public function preDispatch(Zend_Controller_Request_Abstract $request)
   {
      $layout = Zend_Layout::getMvcInstance();
      $view = $layout->getView();

      $view->whatever = 'foo';
   }
}

I'd like to use it for sending variables to the layout view. It happens that I get Fatal error: Class 'LayoutPlugin' not found every time I try Zend_Controller_Front::getInstance()->registerPlugin(new LayoutPlugin()); in the admin bootstrap.

How do I load a plugin inside a module?

Answer 1

Module bootstraps setup the module autoloader by default, so if you rename your class to Admin_Plugin_LayoutPlugin ZF should be able to find it.

Keep in mind that the admin bootstrap (like all bootstraps) will be run regardless of whether you're in the admin module or not, so if your intention is to assign some extra variables just for your admin pages you'll need to ensure that admin is the current module before registering the plugin.