Creating a plugin for The Secretary is a very simple and straightforward process. Plugin development is very freeform, making it quick and easy. Plugins can modify data submitted in the backend, add form fields and sections, act as a module and alter display and presentation on the frontend, as well as provide new template tags for use in themes.

====== File Naming and Installation ======

All plugins in The Secretary must end with the extension //plugin.php// and be in the form of //plugin_name.plugin.php//. If the file does not have the correct extension it will be ignored. A plugin can also be contained within it's own folder, within which sub folders can contain external libraries, JavaScript files or anything else needed.

Installing a plugin requires uploading the file (or folder) to the //system/plugins// folder in the Secretary installation. It will be automatically included by the system.


====== Hooks and Anchors ======

In order to modify the system in some way, a plugin must hook into it, by attaching itself to an //anchor// (see the full [[extend:plugins:anchors|list of anchors]]). Anchors can give access to data (to modify a variable, for example), or simply act as an "event" (//projectFormBeforeFiles// lets developers insert fields into the project edit form //before// the file list+uploader).

Hooking into anchors is easy:
<code php>
<?php
	hook( "anchor_name", "myPluginFunction" );
?>
</code>

====== Related ======
  * [[plugins:a-basic-plugin|A Basic Plugin]]
  * [[plugins:advanced-plugins|Advanced Plugins]]