Why the Comment Field is Not Overridden

Oct 13, 2025 by pinkandtrash.com 0 views

Introduction

Magento 2 provides a flexible way to customize and extend its functionality through the use of system.xml files. These files allow developers to override and customize various settings and configurations in the Magento 2 admin panel. However, sometimes, even after overriding the system.xml file, certain fields, such as the comment field, may still take their values from the core file. In this article, we will explore how to override the comment field in system.xml in Magento 2.

Understanding System.xml in Magento 2

Before we dive into the solution, let's briefly understand how system.xml works in Magento 2. The system.xml file is a configuration file that defines the settings and configurations for various modules in Magento 2. It is used to customize and extend the functionality of Magento 2. The system.xml file is typically located in the etc directory of a module.

Overriding System.xml in Magento 2

To override the system.xml file in Magento 2, you need to create a new system.xml file in the etc directory of your module. This file should have the same structure and layout as the core system.xml file, but with the necessary changes to override the default settings.

Example: Overriding System.xml File

Let's assume you want to override the system.xml file for the Magento 2 module "Magento_Catalog". You would create a new system.xml file in the etc directory of your module, with the following code:

&lt;?xml version="1.0"?>
&lt;config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:module:Magento_Config:etc/system_file.xsd">
    &lt;system xmlns:set="urn:magento:module:Magento_Config:etc/system_file" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:module:Magento_Config:etc/system_file.xsd">
        &lt;group id="catalog" translate="label" type="text" sortOrder="1" showInDefault="1" showInWebsite="1" showInStore="1">
            &lt;field id="comment" translate="label comment" type="text" sortOrder="1" showInDefault="1" showInWebsite="1" showInStore="1">
                &lt;label translate="true">Comment</label>
                &lt;comment translate="true">This is a comment field.</comment>
            &lt;/field>
        &lt;/group>
    &lt;/system>
&lt;/config>

In this example, we have overridden the comment field in the system.xml file for the Magento 2 module "Magento_Catalog". We have also added a label and a comment to the field.

Why the Comment Field is Not Overridden

Even after overriding the system.xml file, the comment field may still take its value from the core file. This is because the comment field is defined in the core system.xml file, and Magento 2 uses the core file as a fallback when it cannot find the overridden file.

Solution: Using the `use_default` Attribute

To override the comment field, you need to use the use_default attribute in the system.xml file. The use_default attribute tells Magento 2 to use the overridden value instead of the default value from the core file.

Here is an updated example of the system.xml file with the use_default attribute:

&lt;?xml version="1.0"?>
&lt;config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:module:Magento_Config:etc/system_file.xsd">
    &lt;system xmlns:set="urn:magento:module:Magento_Config:etc/system_file" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:module:Magento_Config:etc/system_file.xsd">
        &lt;group id="catalog" translate="label" type="text" sortOrder="1" showInDefault="1" showInWebsite="1" showInStore="1">
            &lt;field id="comment" translate="label comment" type="text" sortOrder="1" showInDefault="1" showInWebsite="1" showInStore="1" use_default="0">
                &lt;label translate="true">Comment</label>
                &lt;comment translate="true">This is a custom comment field.</comment>
            &lt;/field>
        &lt;/group>
    &lt;/system>
&lt;/config>

In this updated example, we have added the use_default attribute to the comment field and set it to 0. This tells Magento 2 to use the overridden value instead of the default value from the core file.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to override the comment field in system.xml in Magento 2. We have also discussed the use_default attribute and how it can be used to override the default value from the core file. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to override the comment field in system.xml in Magento 2.

Additional Tips and Resources

Make sure to clear the cache after overriding the system.xml file.
Use the use_default attribute to override the default value from the core file.
Consult the Magento 2 documentation for more information on system.xml files.
Use a code editor or IDE to write and edit the system.xml file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is the comment field not overridden? A: The comment field may not be overridden because the use_default attribute is not set to 0.
Q: How do I use the use_default attribute? A: To use the use_default attribute, set it to 0 in the system.xml file.
Q: What is the purpose of the use_default attribute? A: The use_default attribute tells Magento 2 to use the overridden value instead of the default value from the core file.