PrestaShop is a popular open-source e-commerce platform that allows entrepreneurs to easily create and manage online stores. One of the key features of PrestaShop is its modular structure, which enables the extension of functionalities through custom modules or modifications. Creating a custom back office section in PrestaShop is a great way to add specific features you need for managing your store. In this article, we'll look at the step-by-step process.

Preparation

Before you begin, ensure you have access to your server's FTP and that you have a development environment set up that allows you to edit and transfer files. It's also recommended to back up your current PrestaShop installation to avoid any potential issues.

Step 1: Creating a Module

The first step is to create a basic module. A module in PrestaShop is a folder containing PHP files, templates, CSS, JavaScript, and other necessary files. To create a module:

1. Create a new folder in the modules directory of your PrestaShop installation. The folder name will be the name of your module.
2. In this folder, create a file named mymodule.php (replace mymodule with the name of your module). This file will contain the main class of the module.

Step 2: Defining the Module

In the mymodule.php file, define the module class. This class must inherit from the Module class and should implement basic methods necessary for installation, uninstallation, and displaying content in the back office.

if (!defined('_PS_VERSION_'))
  exit;

class MyModule extends Module
{
  public function __construct()
  {
    $this->name = 'mymodule';
    $this->tab = 'front_office_features';
    $this->version = '1.0.0';
    $this->author = 'Your Name';
    $this->need_instance = 0;
    $this->ps_versions_compliancy = array('min' => '1.6', 'max' => _PS_VERSION_);
    $this->bootstrap = true;

    parent::__construct();

    $this->displayName = $this->l('My Module Name');
    $this->description = $this->l('Description of my module.');

    $this->confirmUninstall = $this->l('Are you sure you want to uninstall my module?');
  }

  public function install()
  {
    if (!parent::install() || !$this->registerHook('backOfficeHeader'))
      return false;
    return true;
  }

  public function uninstall()
  {
    if (!parent::uninstall())
      return false;
    return true;
  }
}

Step 3: Adding Content to the Back Office

After defining the module, you need to add logic for displaying content in the back office. This can be achieved by registering the displayAdminProductsExtra hook (or another relevant hook according to your need) and adding a method to handle this hook.

public function hookDisplayAdminProductsExtra($params)
{
  // Add logic to display your content here
  return $this->display(__FILE__, 'views/templates/admin/configure.tpl');
}

Step 4: Creating a Template

To display content in the back office, you need to create a template. Create a views/templates/admin folder in your module folder and place a configure.tpl file inside. This file will contain the HTML code for your back office section.

<form action="{$link->getAdminLink('AdminModules')}&configure=mymodule" method="post">
  <div class="panel">
    <div class="panel-heading">
      {l s='My Module Settings' mod='mymodule'}
    </div>
    <!-- Body of the settings form -->
  </div>
</form>

Creating a custom back office section in PrestaShop requires an understanding of the module structure and how PrestaShop manages extensions. With due diligence and adherence to best practices, you can effectively extend the functionality of your e-shop and improve its management. Remember to test your module in a development environment to ensure everything works as expected before deploying it on a production server.