Programmatically remove block from layout

Question

I want to remove the product_options_wrapper block from the product view page according to the logedin user via frontend router controller.

I know that I can program

Answer 1

Inorder to remove a block using its parent block use the code below

$this->getLayout()->getBlock('product.info')->unsetChild('product_options_wrapper');

Answer 2

This should work:

    $blockName = 'left'; // Add yours
    $update = Mage::app()->getLayout()->getUpdate();
    $removeInstruction = "<remove name=\"$blockName\"/>";
    $update->addUpdate($removeInstruction);

Why? Have a look in the file Mage_Core_Model_Layout in the method generateXml() the XML is parsed and where a remove is set for a block, the attribute ignore is added to the block. In the method generateBlocks() all the blocks which have that attribute are not added.

Answer 3

The OP code should work, if it used the correct block name, which is product.info.options.wrapper, as opposed to the block alias.

$this->loadLayout();
//e.g. 
if (Mage::getSingleton('customer/session')->getCustomerGroupId() == [id]){
     $this->getLayout()->unsetBlock('product.info.options.wrapper');
}
$this->renderLayout();