Template Variables
Templates can also have variables. A template variable is something
that will be replaced when a template is parsed. This behavior is known as
interpolation.
Template variables must begin with a curly brace
{ followed by some text and end
with a curly brace }.
Example:
<!-- BEGIN: main -->
<p>Here is a template variable: {NAME}.
This variable will be replaced when
the template is parsed</p>
<!-- END: main -->
Template variables do not need to be CAPITALIZED however, this
convention makes template variables stand out in both your template and in
your code.
Template variables should not contain spaces or non standard
characters. Alphanumeric characters with hyphens and underscores are
fine.
Arrays
XiTemplate supports interpolation of multidimensional arrays. Array
template variables differ slightly from standard template variables in
that they contain a dot delimited list of array keys after the variable
name.
Example
<!-- BEGIN: main -->
<p>A normal template variable: {LAST_NAME}</p>
<p>An array template variable: {NAME.first_name} {NAME.last_name}</p>
<!-- END: main -->
Multi dimensional array example
<!-- BEGIN: main -->
<p>Multidimensional array: {PERSON.name.first_name} {PERSON.name.last_name}</p>
<!-- END: main -->
There is one more type of template variable that can be interpreted
by XiTemplate as a command. This variable is "FILE". FILE variables
contain special instruction for XiTemplate to include and interpolated
another file into the current position of the FILE call.
Example
<!-- BEGIN: main -->
<p>Here is an included file</p>
{FILE "examples/myfile.tpl"}
<!-- END: main -->
Files included by FILE command are treated as though they were in
the current block before parsing so any template variables that would have
been assigned in the current block will apply to the included file as
well.
Included files can also contain additional blocks and sub
blocks.
Included files can also contain FILE calls to
additional files to be included!
Warning: Do not let a file call itself with the FILE
command. This will included the file, which will include itself, which
will include itself, which will include itself....we can do this all
day.
