How to send category based order emails in magento?

Question

I have two root categories in my magento site. One is \"Home Products\" and the other is \"Office products\".

These two root categories have some sub categories also.

Answer 1

I suggest you to write own Observer to order.

sales_order_place_after

event suits best for your purpose.

If buyer can add to shopping cart items only from 1 cateogry.

Your module should:

1. Get order via observer.
2. Get order first item and get it's category
3. Choose email based on category

Send email

 public function sendOrder(){
    $order = $observer->getEvent()->getOrder(); 
            ...
            //Implement logic here
            ...

    $emailTemplate  = Mage::getModel('core/email_template')
                    ->loadDefault('your_template');                            
    $emailTemplateVariables = array();
    $emailTemplateVariables['order'] = $order;      
    $emailTemplate->setSenderName('Your shops name');
    $emailTemplate->setSenderEmail('addres@from.com');
    $emailTemplate->setTemplateSubject(Subject');
    $emailTemplate->send('to@addres.com','Name', $emailTemplateVariables);          
 }

Update 1

First of all I insist that you see the link I provide in the comments area.

Then: To create module:

1. Create in app/etc/modules/ Company_Module.xml file. With the content similiar to this one:

   true local This eill tell magento, that in app/code/local/Company/Module there is something interesting to watch.

2. Create proper folder and file structure. For you module I think it would be enough:

   Company
   -Module
   --etc
   ---config.xml
   --Model
   ---Observer.php
   --Helper
   ---Data.php
   

3. Magento should know everything about your module. Moreover you should define observer for event. Important note: we will catch Magento's event. Not ours.

config.xml:

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <config>
        <modules>
            <Company_Module>
                <version>0.1.0</version>
            </Company_Module>
        </modules>
        <global>
            <models>
                <company_module>
                    <class>Company_Module_Model</class>
                </company_module>
            </models>
            <helpers>
                <cmod>
                    <class>Company_Module_Helper</class>
                </cmod>
            </helpers>
            <events>
                <sales_order_place_after>
                    <observers>
                        <sales_order_place_after_observer>
                            <class>company_module/observer</class>
                            <method>handleOrder</method>
                        </sales_order_place_after_observer>
                    </observers>
                </sales_order_place_after>
            </events>
        </global>
    </config>

Data.php - It is empty but it should be.

    class Company_Module_Helper_Data extends Mage_Core_Helper_Abstract{

    }

Observer.php

    class Company_Module_Model_Observer{
            public function handleOrder($observer){
                    $order = $observer->getEvent()->getOrder();   
                            ...
                            //Implement logic here
                            ...

                    $emailTemplate  = Mage::getModel('core/email_template')
                            ->loadDefault('your_template');                            
                    $emailTemplateVariables = array();
                    $emailTemplateVariables['order'] = $order;        
                    $emailTemplate->setSenderName('Your shops name');
                    $emailTemplate->setSenderEmail('addres@from.com');
                    $emailTemplate->setTemplateSubject(Subject');
                    $emailTemplate->send('to@addres.com','Name', $emailTemplateVariables); 
            }
    }

Answer 2

@Jevgeni (and anyone else needing the link), the Link for Magento has moved

http://www.magentocommerce.com/wiki/5_-_modules_and_development/0_-_module_development_in_magento/customizing_magento_using_event-observer_method