Block layout

Default block layout for new courses

To amend the default block layout for new courses, one or more of the following lines (omitting the forward slashes) from config-dist.php may be added to config.php, amending the block names as required.

// These variables define DEFAULT block variables for new courses
// If this one is set it overrides all others and is the only one used.
//      $CFG->defaultblocks_override =    'participants,activity_modules,search_forums,admin,course_list:news_items,calendar_upcoming,recent_activity';
//
// These variables define the specific settings for defined course formats.
// They override any settings defined in the formats own config file.
//      $CFG->defaultblocks_site = 'site_main_menu,admin,course_list:course_summary,calendar_month';
//      $CFG->defaultblocks_social =  'participants,search_forums,calendar_month,calendar_upcoming,social_activities,recent_activity,admin,course_list';
//      $CFG->defaultblocks_topics =  'participants,activity_modules,search_forums,admin,course_list:news_items,calendar_upcoming,recent_activity';
//      $CFG->defaultblocks_weeks =  'participants,activity_modules,search_forums,admin,course_list:news_items,calendar_upcoming,recent_activity';
// These blocks are used when no other default setting is found.

// $CFG->defaultblocks = 'participants,activity_modules,search_forums,admin,course_list:news_items,calendar_upcoming,recent_activity';

For example, to set the default block layout for topics format courses to People, Tags and Administration on the left, and Messages, Online users and Recent activity on the right, simply add the following line to your config.php file:

$CFG->defaultblocks_topics =  'participants,tags,admin:messages,online_users,recent_activity';

Note how the colon is used to separate those blocks appearing on the left, from those appearing on the right.

Sticky blocks may also be used to set the position of particular blocks, which can then not be moved.

Resetting the block layout for existing courses

The block layout for existing courses may be reset by copying the following script into a text file, saving it as resetblocks.php, copying it into the Moodle root directory, then visiting http://yourmoodlesite.org/resetblocks.php.

Warning: This script may change the layout of your course pages and also remove blocks from those pages if they have not been specified in the config.php line. Check which of your courses has blocks which are not in the config.php line and be prepared to spend time adding blocks to your course pages again. Please note that a database backup is recommended before using the script.

<?php
//moodle 1.9
require_once('config.php');
require_once($CFG->libdir.'/blocklib.php');
$courses = get_records('course');
foreach($courses as $course) {
   $page = page_create_object(PAGE_COURSE_VIEW, $course->id);
   blocks_repopulate_page($page);
}
print_heading('Done!');
?>

<?php
//moodle 2.x
require_once('config.php');
require_once($CFG->libdir.'/blocklib.php');
$courses = get_courses();//can be feed categoryid to just effect one category
foreach($courses as $course) {
   $context = get_context_instance(CONTEXT_COURSE,$course->id);
   blocks_delete_all_for_context($context->id);
   blocks_add_default_course_blocks($course);
} 
?>

See also

Using Moodle Default Block Layout for moodle 1.9 forum discussion