Adding custom product attributes in Magento using setup script

Question

I am using module setup script to add new attributes group, attribute set and attributes. I am able to create attribute set, attribute group and add products to group/set. B

Answer 1

Use 'visible_on_front' => 1, in addAttribute call.

Answer 2

Do you have properly configured your installer in your config.xml ? The standard class for magento installers is Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Setup but when dealing with products, you'll need to use Mage_Catalog_Model_Resource_Setup instead. Why ? look at their method _prepareValues() and you'll understand what are the authorised attributes (products have more options than the standard eav_objects, you can see that when comparing the tables eav_attribute and catalog_eav_attribute)

To point to the good installer class, take a look at the standard Mage_Catalog config.xml and adapt it for your module :

<resources>
    <catalog_setup>
        <setup>
            <module>Mage_Catalog</module>
            <class>Mage_Catalog_Model_Resource_Setup</class><!-- that line !-->
        </setup>
    </catalog_setup>
</resources>

ps: note that the _prepareValues() method is called only when adding an attribute... if you want to update an attribute you'll need to use the full option name ("is_visible" and not just "visible")...

Another hack would be to add these attributes afterward, but it's not very beautiful:

// adding atribute :
// [...]

//getting the new attribute with full informations
$eavConfig = Mage::getSingleton('eav/config');
$installer->cleanCache();
$attribute = $eavConfig->getAttribute('catalog_product', $attributeCode);
$attribute->addData(array(
    'is_visible' => 1
));
$attribute->save()