Fernando, I too had trouble with this concept when I first started working with Drupal. The most simplistic description I can give of the difference is that hook_insert()/hook_update() and friends are for use in a module that defines a node type. hook_nodeapi() is for use in modules that augment or extend node types defined by other modules. By example, the page module defines a node of type 'page'. The event module augments any node type, including page, to add date information to the node. Scott Fernando Silva wrote:
Hi,
In the following page http://api.drupal.org/api/HEAD/function/hook_nodeapi it says: "If you are writing a node module, do not use this hook to perform actions on your type of node alone. Instead, use the hooks set aside for node modules, such as hook_insert() and hook_form()."
My question is why is it better to use the standalone functions instead of the centralized one?
Regards, Fernando Silva