Develop a plugin for vm3

[lica]

Hi,
I'm currently using vm3.0.12, Joomla! 3.4.6 and PHP 5.5.22.
I would like to develop a new plugin for vm3 for implementing a new way in managing stock of products. I have pretty clear which files I have to modify in vm but I would like to develop it like a plugin for easier portability to next versions of vm and manutebility. In this optic I have a lot of doubts, can someone indicate me the way in which to proceed?
I try to describe better my needs.
In order to do this I need to change the behaviour of some existing models (like product.php) and existing views.
It's possible to extend existing models of vm within the models of a plugin? It's sufficient to include the class that I want to extend and extend it in a new model file of the plugin?
And for add functionalities to existing controllers?
How can I procced to override existing views with the plugin? It's possible or it's just possible to add new views?

Thanks for any indication!

[GJC Web Design]

 the VM plugins work by being called by various triggers within the VM core

Just look at a bundled vmcustom one.. note the functions and find those triggers in the core

e.g. in the orders model is

JPluginHelper::importPlugin('vmpayment');
         $_dispatcher = JDispatcher::getInstance();      
         $_returnValues = $_dispatcher->trigger('plgVmOnUpdateOrderPayment',array(&$data,$old_order_status));

this would trigger the function plgVmOnUpdateOrderPayment  in any vmpayment plugin that had this function

I have also seen plugins/ext that over ride whole vm core functions

something like this may work


jimport('joomla.application.component.modellist');
jimport( 'joomla.application.module.helper' );

require_once(JPATH_VM_ADMIN . '/models/product.php');

class MynameModelProduct extends VirtueMartModelProduct
{
      public function getProductListing($group = false, $nbrReturnProducts = false, $withCalc = true, $onlyPublished = true, $single = false, $filterCategory = true, $category_id = 0){

          //do something but I think u need to recreate the whole function?

      }

}

[lica]

So if I search for all the trigger function call in vm core I should find all the possible functions that I may use in my plugin, right?

For the model is quite what I was thinking about,for sure I will try it.

For override existing views the only solution that I had was to copy the override files with the modifications to the html folder of the template on plugin installation. I don't realy like it, I would like a cleaner way to modify existing views. Do you know any alternative?

Thanks for help!

[GJC Web Design]

So if I search for all the trigger function call in vm core I should find all the possible functions that I may use in my plugin, right?

correct

re views if you mean just the template what u describe is correct