Magento: helloworld report page in the Admin report menu

To add a new page in Magento admin panel, at least 6 files are needed in a Magento module. 2 xml files, 1 template file, 1 block class, 1 admin controller class, and 1 helper class. Here is an example of adding a new menu item in the report drop down menu in Magento admin panel.

app/code/local/MyExtensions/Helloworld/etc/config.xml, blocks, hellpers, and admin router need to be defined.
[code language=”xml”]
<config>
<!– some other configurations, module version, frontend… –>
<global>
<blocks>
<helloworld>
<class>MyExtensions_Helloworld_Block</class>
</helloworld>
</blocks>
<helpers>
<helloworld>
<class>MyExtensions_Helloworld_Helper</class>
</helloworld>
</helpers>
</global>
<admin>
<routers>
<adminhtml>
<args>
<modules>
<helloworld before="Mage_Adminhtml">MyExtensions_Helloworld_Adminhtml</helloworld>
</modules>
</args>
</adminhtml>
</routers>
</admin>
<!– some other configurations –>
</config>
[/code]

app/code/local/MyExtensions/Helloworld/etc/adminhtml.xml, defines the helloworld menu item and it’s action to be app/code/local/MyExtensions/Helloworld/controllers/Adminhtml/HelloworldController.php
[code language=”xml”]
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<config>
<menu>
<report>
<children>
<helloworld_report translate="title" module="helloworld">
<title>Helloworld Report</title>
<action>adminhtml/helloworld/index</action>
<sort_order>90</sort_order>
</helloworld_report>
</children>
</report>
</menu>
</config>
[/code]

app/design/adminhtml/template/helloworld/adminhelloworld.phtml, the block template that renders the html contents.
[code language=”php”]
<?php
// $this @ MyExtensions_Helloworld_Block_Adminhtml_Adminhelloworld
var_dump(get_class_methods(get_class($this)));
$this->helloAdmin();
?>
[/code]

app/code/local/MyExtensions/Helloworld/Helper/Data.php, module helper class.
[code language=”php”]
<?php
class MyExtensions_Helloworld_Helper_Data extends Mage_Core_Helper_Abstract {

}
?>
[/code]

app/code/local/MyExtensions/Helloworld/Block/Adminhtml/Adminhelloworld.php, the admin helloworld block class for the block adminhelloworld.phtml
[code language=”php”]
<?php
class MyExtensions_Helloworld_Block_Adminhtml_Adminhelloworld extends Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Template
{

public function helloAdmin()
{
echo "Hello Admin";
}
}
?>
[/code]

app/code/local/MyExtensions/Helloworld/controllers/Adminhtml/HelloworldController.php, the controller for the admin helloworld page
[code language=”php”]
<?php
class MyExtensions_Helloworld_Adminhtml_HelloworldController extends Mage_Adminhtml_Controller_Action
{
public function indexAction()
{
// Load layout.
$this->loadLayout();

// Set block and template to use for admin.
$this->_addContent( $this->getLayout()
->createBlock( ‘helloworld/adminhtml_adminhelloworld’ )
->setTemplate( ‘helloworld/adminhelloworld.phtml’ ) );

// Render layout.
$this->renderLayout();
}
}
?>
[/code]