Question

Calling setNoRender() or indeed any methods on the viewRenderer helper seem to have no effect in a controller plugin.

class TestPlugin extends Zend_Controller_Plugin_Abstract
{
    public function postDispatch(Zend_Controller_Request_Abstract $request)
    {
        $viewRenderer = Zend_Controller_Action_HelperBroker::getStaticHelper('viewRenderer');
        $viewRenderer->setNoRender();
    }
}

The view script still renders. And the plugin is definitely running as I can put echoes in here and they will output.

Answer 1

You’ll have to put this in your postDispatch of your Controller Plugin.

$viewRenderer = Zend_Controller_Action_HelperBroker::getExistingHelper('viewRenderer');
$viewRenderer->setNeverRender(true);