Magento static CMS block in XML layout with two or more storeviews

Question

I have two static CMS Blocks called "promo_en" and "promo_de" - translated for the two existing storeviews "en" and "de".

I'd like to add them to the sidebar of some modules using the layout.xml files of the modules.

The problem is that if I add them both using the following syntax - they both show disregarding the storeview I'm currently in (I would expect some automatic filtering):

<block type="cms/block" name="Promo_de">
    <action method="setBlockId"><block_id>promo_de</block_id></action>
</block> 
<block type="cms/block" name="Promo_en">
    <action method="setBlockId"><block_id>promo_en</block_id></action>
</block> 

If I rename them both to "promo" and use the following syntax - it works fine until I activate Magento's cache - then the output of the CMS block freezes on whatever storeview is cached first:

<block type="cms/block" name="Promo">
    <action method="setBlockId"><block_id>promo</block_id></action>
</block> 

And ideas or workarounds on the matter are highly appreciated.

Solution 1

I ended up writing my own Mini-Module to quickfix the problem, switching the translations in code based on the current store code:

if( Mage::app()->getStore()->getCode() == 'de' ) 
{
    echo $this->getLayout()->createBlock('cms/block')->setBlockId('promo_de')->toHtml();
} 
else if( Mage::app()->getStore()->getCode() == 'en' ) 
{
    echo $this->getLayout()->createBlock('cms/block')->setBlockId('promo_en')->toHtml();
}

I know it's ugly but time really was an issue here and I'll have to clean this up in the future...

Solution 2

As a rough workaround you can use layout handles specific to each store. For example;

<STORE_de>
    <reference name="left">
        <block type="cms/block" name="Promo_de">
            <action method="setBlockId"><block_id>promo_de</block_id></action>
        </block> 
    </reference>
</STORE_de>
<STORE_en>
    <reference name="left">
        <block type="cms/block" name="Promo_en">
            <action method="setBlockId"><block_id>promo_en</block_id></action>
        </block> 
    </reference>
</STORE_en>

Solution 3

Why not create the static blocks with same identifier, and then only enable them in corresponding store view?

<block type="cms/block" name="Promo">
    <action method="setBlockId"><block_id>promo</block_id></action>
</block> 

Then create 2 static blocks with identifier promo and only enable them in storeview where they belong?

Comments

[backyardKiwi]

Thanks - I'd have loved to use this way because it would be just a quickfix for a promotion box the customer wants on certain modules - but unfortunately magento just ignores the layout handles... no idea why...

[backyardKiwi]

The clean way seems to be the theme override Matthew suggested - you should have a look at it before using this solution which is nothing more than a quickfix...