Magento widgets

What is a Magento widget?

Magento Widgets are Magento extensions with a predefined set of configuration options. Through them the store administrators can enrich the front-end blocks functionality. They provide great control and flexibility in creating informational and marketing content through the Magento administrator panel. Once installed, the widgets options can be tuned by the Magento store administrators.

The Magento widgets can be used after script version 1.4.

They can be installed in the same way as the other Magento extensions.

Some of the possible implementations of the Magento widgets are:

1. Dynamic product data;
2. Dynamic lists with the recently viewed items;
3. Promotional images placed on different Magento front-end locations;
4. Interactive navigation elements and action blocks;
5. Dynamic flash elements that can be easily configured and embedded in content pages;
6. And many more

In this tutorial we will show you how to install a sample widget #1. First you need to get the extension key from the corresponding Magento page. Click on the Get Extension Key button, agree to the extension license agreement and click again on the same button.

The extension key will be visualised. For the current example the extension key is:

magento-core/Sample_WidgetOne

Select and copy it.

Open the Magento Admin Area->System->Magento Connect->Magento Connect Manager. Enter again the admin login details and paste the extension key in the Paste extension key to install field. Click on the Install button.

Once the installation is completed enable the widget for your Home Page. Return to the Magento Admin Area and navigate to CMS->Pages.

Click on the Home Page link.

Open the Content section and click on the Insert Widget icon.

A new window will be opened. You can pick the Widget Type from the drop-down menu. Then click the Insert Widget button.

The widget will be inserted. Click on the Save Page button in the Magento administrator area. After this you can check your Home Page.

The chosen widget is successfully inserted.