Q:

After overriding contoller how to best update handles

Once i override controller:       
            <!--...-->               
              <rewrite>          
                   <sj_storepickup_checkout_onepage>                      
                       <from><![CDATA[#^/checkout/onepage/#]]></from>   
                            <to>/storepickup/checkout_onepage/</to>          
                   </sj_storepickup_checkout_onepage>                
              </rewrite>          
           <!--...-->

I am forced(because i don't know other way) to include layout file:
                 <!--...->
                     <layout>     
                         <updates>     
                             <storepickup>         
                                 <file>storepickup.xml</file>     
                              </storepickup>          
                         </updates>       
                     </layout>      
                <--...-->

so that i can update the new module(this case storepickup) handles to use orginal checkout_onepage_action handles that would be done as following in storepickup.xml
          <sj_storepickup_checkout_onepage_index>        
                <update handle="checkout_onepage_index"/>   
          </sj_storepickup_checkout_onepage_index>       

          <sj_storepickup_checkout_onepage_progress>        
              <update handle="checkout_onepage_progress"/>           
          </sj_storepickup_checkout_onepage_progress>

                               .
                               .
                               .

Otherwise the layout will render empty content block. 
In the layout file storepickup.xml i am saying to use the original checkout layout handles and this seems a lot of repetitiveness and inefficient way to do it? Is there better way to update the handles? can i do the same thing within controller that way avoiding extra layout file to write/process?
Thank you,
Margots

A:

Overriding controllers directly was always a bit of hack, with a lot of undesired side effects.  Try using the technique discussed here to have Magento check your module first for a particular controller file.   
<admin>
 <routers>
   <adminhtml>
     <args>
       <modules>
         <sintax before="Mage_Adminhtml">Mage_Sintax</sintax>
       </modules>
     </args>
   </adminhtml>
 </routers>
</admin>

It should leave your handle names intact.

