Template order in backend

[Hurme]

Heya,
Is there any way to affect the order of templates in the backend, specifically when you create a new page and select the template it uses? It would be useful to have the most used template at top of the list as an example.

[Ivan Gretsky]

One way would be to give them labels sorted in alphabetical order. Something like:

• 01 - Most used template (a label for most_used_template)
• 02 - Not so much used template (a label for not_so_much_used_template)

[kongondo]

Or a hook like this? (not tested much).

in site/ready.php

$wire->addHookAfter('ProcessPageAdd::getAllowedTemplates', function (HookEvent $event) {
    $allowedTemplatesArray = $event->return;// normal PHP Array
    $allowedTemplatesWireArray = new WireArray();// create new WireArray() for sorting convenience
    $allowedTemplatesWireArray->setArray($allowedTemplatesArray);// populate the WireArray with data
    // whatever sort you want -> id, name, or multiple props, etc
    // maybe even a $int = $template->getNumPages(); ? PERFORMANCE ISSUES? (would require looping through all templates)
    $allowedTemplatesWireArray->sort('-id'); // sorting by ID DESC
    $allowedTemplatesModifiedArray = $allowedTemplatesWireArray->getArray();// get PHP Array back from sorted/modified WireArray
    $event->return = $allowedTemplatesModifiedArray;// give it back for passing to ProcessPageAdd -> buildForm()
});

You could also use PHP's sort functions to sort the $allowedTemplatesArray but it is simpler to user WireArray sort instead ?.

Edited September 24, 2020 by kongondo

[Hurme]

Thanks to you both,
The numbering option was something I thought about too, but it seems bit clunky in the end.

I'll take a look at your hook next week, thanks for that!