Templatized String Syntax

Templates have the syntax: {<control name>}. For example, this form contains three controls labeled "Apples", "Oranges" and "Pears". The controls are named "Q1", "Q2" and "Q3" respectively and would be referenced in a template as {Q1}, {Q2} and {Q3}.

Templates can have default values. The syntax is {<control name>=<default>} For example, this form also contains a control labeled "Total Items in Cart" which is named "T". A template {T=0} would resolve to the value "0" when the field named T is empty otherwise it would resolve to the entered value.

The Shopping Cart section control contains templates for its Label, Hint and Help.

The Help property contains this text:

You have {T} items in your cart.<br/> 
{Q1=0} Apples<br/> 
{Q2=0} Oranges<br/> 
{Q3=0} Pears 

Before the user starts entering values into this form they will see:

As a user begins entering values into the form fields, the templates will immediately begin appearing, and the user will see:

Templatized String Parameters

Templates support parameters. The syntax is {<control name>=<default value>!<parameter>}. The supported parameter is:

• encode={true/false} – If encode is false the template is not encoded after resolving it. The default is true 

The encode template parameter is very useful when the template value is a URL. For example, if the template is {svchost}?name={svcps} and svchost has the value http://localhost:8080/, it will get mangled by encoding. Instead use {svchost!encode=false}?name={svcps} and it will not get mangled by encoding.  

Repeat Controls

The template syntax is extended for controls inside repeats. The name of the repeating control must be proceeded with the '|' character. For example if you have a control name Phone inside a repeat, the template must be written as {|Phone}. The result of this template is to output the list of all phone numbers items entered into the form.

The syntax also allows for an optional separator. If you would like to get the list of phone number items separated by ", " (comma and space), use the following template: {, |Phone}. Other examples are {|Phone}, {,|Phone}, { |Phone}. The 1st template lists all the entered phone numbers with no separator. The 2nd uses a comma and the 3rd a space. If you used these three in a form's Doc Action Display Message and two phone numbers were entered 203.208.3117 and 203.208.3118 you would see this output for those three templates:

203.208.3117 203.208.3118
203.208.3117,203.208.3118
203.208.3117 203.208.3118 

Another example is {<br/> |Names} for a control named Names inside a repeat you would see the output:

Joe
Nancy 
James 

Repeat Item Labels

It is very useful to use templates with repeat controls. Imagine a long list of medications that appear on the form in a collapsed state. It is helpful if the section labels are not simply a static text such as "Medication" but rather dynamic and indicative of the values entered into the form.

Template Syntax for the Comment Field of Selection Controls

The comment field of selection controls (dropdowns, checkboxes and radios) can be accessed in templates. This is supported for templates in forms and flows.

Let's say you have a radio control named Products in a form/flow step. The options are Computers, Cell Phones, DVDs, TVS and Other. If Other is chosen, a comment field displays for additional information.

Use this syntax to access the selection control option and/or the selection control comment in a template. The examples use templates to specify the Task Information field on the Task List for a workflow:

• To access the value of the selected option via the template the syntax is  - {|your selection control name} - curly brace-pipe-your control name-curly brace

• To access the value of the selection control comment via the template the syntax is  - {|your selection control name.comment} - curly brace-pipe-your control name.comment-curly brace.
  
  
  
  
• To access the value of the selected control options in a repeat the syntax is - {the separator |your selection control name} - curly brace - the separator - space - pipe - your selection control name - curly brace.
  
  
  
  
• To access the value of the selected control comment fields in a repeat the syntax is - {the separator |your selection control name.comment} - curly brace - the separator - space - pipe - your selection control name.comment - curly brace.