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[HOW TO - vB4] Rendering templates and registering variables - a short guide
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cellarius
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cellarius cellarius is offline 11-15-2009, 10:00 PM
Introduction

Starting with vB4, templates no longer get output using eval:
PHP Code:
eval('$mytemplate = "' . fetch_template('mytemplate') . '";'); 
is outdated.
What's more: Variables and arrays from plugins that are executed on a page no longer can automatically be accessed in the templates of that page. They need to be registered first.
.
 Basic functionality to render templates and register all variables/arrays you want to use inside

PHP Code:
/* Some Code, setting variables, (multidimensional) array */
$my_var = "abc";
$my_array = array(
        'key1' => 'value1',
        'key2' => array(' 
                'key21' => 'value21',
                'key22' => 'value22'
        ')
    );

/* render template and register variables */
$templater = vB_Template::create('mytemplate');
    $templater->register('my_var', $my_var);
    $templater->register('my_array', $my_array);
$templater->render(); 
  • The first line provides the template that is to be rendered, using the new vB_Template class (vB_Template::create). The method gets passed the name of the template as an argument.
  • The following two lines register a variable and an array that we want to use in our template. Arguments passed are 1. the name you want to use to access the variable, and 2. the variable from the code you want to register. You can register as many variables/arrays as you want. Just remember you have to register every variable and array that you want to use in your custom template in this way. If you don't register them, they will not be available.
  • The fourth line renders the template ($templater->render()).
In the template you know will be able to use the registered variables/arrays in this way:
HTML Code:
{vb:raw my_var}
{vb:raw my_array.key1}
{vb:raw my_array.key2.key21}
Note the last one: multidimensional arrays are perfectly possible.
.
.
.
Now, with the result of the rendering we can do several things:
.
Output template directly - custom pages

PHP Code:
$templater = vB_Template::create('mytemplate');
    $templater->register_page_templates(); 
    $templater->register('my_var', $my_var);
    $templater->register('my_array', $my_array);
print_output($templater->render()); 
This immediatly outputs the template. Use this if you have created your own page, for example.
Note the second line, which is special for this type of use:
PHP Code:
$templater->register_page_templates(); 
This auto-registers the page level templates header, footer and headinclude that you will use in the template of your custom page.
.
Use a template hook

PHP Code:
$templater = vB_Template::create('mytemplate');
    $templater->register('my_var', $my_var);
    $templater->register('my_array', $my_array);
$template_hook[forumhome_wgo_pos2] .= $templater->render(); 
The template will be shown using the choosen template hook (for example: $template_hook[forumhome_wgo_pos2]). See the dot before the = in the last line? The hook may be used by other modifications, too, so we don't want to overwrite it, but rather append our code to it, conserving everything that might already be there.
.
Save into a variable for later use in custom template
PHP Code:
$templater = vB_Template::create('mytemplate');
    $templater->register('my_var', $my_var);
    $templater->register('my_array', $my_array);
$mytemplate_rendered = $templater->render(); 
Now we have saved the rendered template into a variable. This variable in turn we can later on register in another template, if we want:
PHP Code:
$templater = vB_Template::create('my_other_template');
     $templater->register('my_template_rendered', $my_template_rendered);
 print_output($templater->render()); 
Again, inside my_other_template we now could call
HTML Code:
{vb:raw my_template_rendered}
If you're running the first template call inside a loop, you may want to use .= instead of = in the last line, so that the results of every loop get added instead of overwriting the existing. But that depends, of course.
.
Save into an array and preregister to use in an existing/stock template
PHP Code:
$templater = vB_Template::create('mytemplate');
    $templater->register('my_var', $my_var);
    $templater->register('my_array', $my_array);
$templatevalues['my_insertvar'] = $templater->render();
vB_Template::preRegister('FORUMHOME', $templatevalues); 
  • This is another, more flexible method to save the rendered template into a variable for future use in an already existing template. In this example, we want to show our own rendered template on forumhome.
  • Problem is: We have no direct way to register variables for already existing templates like FORUMHOME. It's created and rendered in the files, and we don't want to mess there.
  • To help with this, a new method was created for vB_Template class, called preRegister. Using this, we can pass our data to FORUMHOME before it is rendered. Note that the data needs to be saved into an array ($templatevalues['my_insertvar']), a simple variable will throw an error. In the last line the array is preregistered; you need to pass as arguments 1. the name of the existing template and 2. the array that contains the data. Again, this can be done for as many arrays as needed.
  • Of course, the preRegister functionality can be used for any kind of variables or arrays, no matter whether you have saved a rendered template (like in our example) into it or it contains just a simple boolean true/false statement.
To access the data inside the template it was preregistered for use:
HTML Code:
{vb:raw my_insertvar}
Note: it is not {vb:raw templatevalues.my_insertvar}!

Essentially the same as what I put for preRegister would be the following two lines. They could replace the last two lines in the above php codebox:
PHP Code:
$my_insertvar = $templater->render();
vB_Template::preRegister('FORUMHOME',array('my_insertvar ' => $my_insertvar)); 
Of course you could add further pairs to that array if you need to preregister more than one variable.
.
.
Bonus track: ...whatever you do, cache your templates!

Now you know how to get your templates on screen - once you succeeded in doing that, make sure to do it in a fast and ressource saving manner: make use of vB's template cache. To see whether your templates are cached or not, activate debug mode by adding $config['Misc']['debug'] = true;to your config.php (don't ever use that on your live site!). Among the debug info is a list of all templates called, and non-cached templates will show up in red.

To cache your templates, add a plugin at hook cache_templates with the following code:
PHP Code:
// for a single template
$cache[] = 'mytemplate'; 

// for more than one templates in one step
$cache = array_merge((array)$cache,array(
    'mytemplate',
    'myothertemplate',
    'mythirdtemplate'
)); 
.
.
Hope this helps!
-cel

----
Addendum - There are now two blog posts on vb.com related to this topic:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/entry...in-4-templates
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/entry...-4-based-files
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  #192  
Old 08-19-2011, 12:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kh99 View Post
You might try taking this line out of the php file:

PHP Code:
$templater->register('usml_military_ranks_sidebar', $usml_military_ranks_sidebar); 
you don't need this and the PreRegister, and this line might actually be registering a null value.
LOL! That did it! It's always something simple I end up overlooking Thanks!
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  #193  
Old 08-28-2011, 07:05 PM
Raeven Raeven is offline
 
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Hi, I kinda only have a short question (before I waste another few days of my life, because I didn't wanted to ask for help lol).

My Problem is, that I would like to hook a template on {vb:raw header} (so I don't need any Template edits anymore).
But all I get to work is, when I add in for example Forumhome Template {vb:raw header2} (then my template gets shown, but not if I try to use the real one).

So the Question is:
Is it actual possible or not (to use {vb:raw header})?

The Plugin Code I am using:

PHP Code:
$templater = vB_Template::create('dev3_main');
    $templater->register('my_var', $my_var);
    $templater->register('my_array', $my_array);
$templatevalues['header'] = $templater->render();
vB_Template::preRegister('FORUMHOME', $templatevalues); 
hook: process_template_complete (tried also a few others).

And sorry for asking stupid Questions .
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  #194  
Old 08-30-2011, 08:22 PM
kh99 kh99 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raeven View Post
Is it actual possible or not (to use {vb:raw header})?
Sorry, you were trying to save a few days but it took a few days to get an answer.

But the answer is that it probably won't work because I think if 'header' gets registered somewhere else (which it probably is, just before the template is rendered), it will override what you pre-registered.
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  #195  
Old 08-31-2011, 04:48 AM
Raeven Raeven is offline
 
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That's what I almost feared. So back to thinking how to get rid of the last template edit.

And thanks for the answer.
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  #196  
Old 08-31-2011, 07:25 AM
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cellarius cellarius is offline
 
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It may not be wise to use additional templates etc. just to get rid of a template edit. It adds considerable overhead.
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  #197  
Old 09-05-2011, 10:41 PM
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There is always 2 things to consider:

- the right way
- the way people / customers and such prefer it (and thats usually no template edits :P)
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  #198  
Old 11-28-2011, 08:34 AM
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I have been trying to do this for days, but ended up failing all the times. I have read this entire thread twice, from page 1-14 but still couldn't figure this out.

So I'm trying to change this part of showthread:


I want to change it into my own moderation action instead of just closing the thread. I want to change the template with plug-in, but I couldn't get the right variable in which the informations about showthread quickreply are stored. On the early page of this thread, someone tried to change the footer just by accessing $footer .= "things to add"; on process_template_complete. So what variable should I be focusing on with my problem? I have already prepared a new template to replace that "checkbox", I just don't know how to access the existing template by using a plugin.

Any help is appreciated..
Attached Images
File Type: png quick.png (12.6 KB, 0 views)
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  #199  
Old 01-08-2012, 08:44 AM
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Ok, I'm obviously missing something, but not sure what. I'm trying to display a variable in the header template, and what I have works just fine in the navbar. Here's what I have to display my mod in the navbar (this works):
PHP Code:
$templater = vB_Template::create('usml_navnet_navbar');
$template_hook[navtab_end] .= $templater->render(); 
And this is what I was trying for the header (this doesn't work):
PHP Code:
$templater = vB_Template::create('usml_navnet_header');
$templatevalues['navnet'] = $templater->render();
vB_Template::preRegister('header', $templatevalues); 
And, I believe, according to the 1st post, I would just add {vb.raw navnet} in the header template. However, it's not working, so I'm obviously overlooking something...
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  #200  
Old 01-08-2012, 04:45 PM
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What hook are you using? Header is rendered early, you may need a hook that is executed earlier.
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  #201  
Old 01-08-2012, 05:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5 View Post
What hook are you using? Header is rendered early, you may need a hook that is executed earlier.
parse_templates
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