WT Layout Select brings PHP layout selection to Joomla fields

The plugin scans specified directories for PHP layouts and presents the available options in a dropdown. It also checks the corresponding override locations under /templates/<template>/html/..., allowing a site’s active template overrides to be included in the selection process.

When a layout is selected, the field’s rawvalue contains JSON with the layout and basePath properties. Its computed value contains a layout_id, which can be used to identify the selected layout.

Rendering a selected layout

A template override can read the field value and pass the stored layout data to LayoutHelper::render():

<?php
use Joomla\CMS\Layout\LayoutHelper;

$field = $this->item->jcfields[14] ?? null;

if ($field && !empty($field->rawvalue)) {
    $raw = json_decode($field->rawvalue);

    if (!empty($raw->layout) && !empty($raw->basePath)) {
        echo LayoutHelper::render($raw->layout, ['item' => $this->item], $raw->basePath);
    }
}

For example, a layout stored at JPATH_ROOT/layouts/com_content/article/sections/pricelist.php can be addressed as com_content.article.sections.pricelist. The approach can be used for article sections, contact cards, category and list components, module-position areas, and reusable layout blocks for Joomla landing pages.