Template::Context(3)

NAME
Template::Context - Runtime context in which templates are processed

SYNOPSIS
    use Template::Context;

    # constructor
    $context = Template::Context->new(\%config)
        || die $Template::Context::ERROR;

    # fetch (load and compile) a template
    $template = $context->template($template_name);

    # fetch (load and instantiate) a plugin object
    $plugin = $context->plugin($name, \@args);

    # fetch (return or create) a filter subroutine
    $filter = $context->filter($name, \@args, $alias);

    # process/include a template, errors are thrown via die()
    $output = $context->process($template, \%vars);
    $output = $context->include($template, \%vars);

    # raise an exception via die()
    $context->throw($error_type, $error_message, \$output_buffer);

    # catch an exception, clean it up and fix output buffer
    $exception = $context->catch($exception, \$output_buffer);

    # save/restore the stash to effect variable localisation
    $new_stash = $context->localise(\%vars);
    $old_stash = $context->delocalise();

    # add new BLOCK or FILTER definitions
    $context->define_block($name, $block);
    $context->define_filter($name, \&filtersub, $is_dynamic);

    # reset context, clearing any imported BLOCK definitions
    $context->reset();

    # methods for accessing internal items
    $stash     = $context->stash();
    $tflag     = $context->trim();
    $epflag    = $context->eval_perl();
    $providers = $context->templates();
    $providers = $context->plugins();
    $providers = $context->filters();
    ...

DESCRIPTION
The "Template::Context" module defines an object class for representing a runtime context in which templates are processed. It provides an interface to the fundamental operations of the Template Toolkit processing engine through which compiled templates (i.e. Perl code constructed from the template source) can process templates, load plugins and filters, raise exceptions and so on.

A default "Template::Context" object is created by the Template module. Any "Template::Context" options may be passed to the Template new() constructor method and will be forwarded to the "Template::Context" constructor.

    use Template;

    my $template = Template->new({
        TRIM      => 1,
        EVAL_PERL => 1,
        BLOCKS    => {
            header => 'This is the header',
            footer => 'This is the footer',
        },
    });

Similarly, the "Template::Context" constructor will forward all configuration parameters onto other default objects (e.g. Template::Provider, Template::Plugins, Template::Filters, etc.) that it may need to instantiate.

    $context = Template::Context->new({
        INCLUDE_PATH => '/home/abw/templates', # provider option
        TAG_STYLE    => 'html',                # parser option
    });

A "Template::Context" object (or subclass) can be explicitly instantiated and passed to the Template new() constructor method as the "CONTEXT" configuration item.

    use Template;
    use Template::Context;

    my $context  = Template::Context->new({ TRIM => 1 });
    my $template = Template->new({ CONTEXT => $context });

The Template module uses the Template::Config context() factory method to create a default context object when required. The $Template::Config::CONTEXT package variable may be set to specify an alternate context module. This will be loaded automatically and its new() constructor method called by the context() factory method when a default context object is required.

    use Template;

    $Template::Config::CONTEXT = 'MyOrg::Template::Context';

    my $template = Template->new({
        EVAL_PERL   => 1,
        EXTRA_MAGIC => 'red hot',  # your extra config items
        ...
    });

METHODS

  new(\%params)
The "new()" constructor method is called to instantiate a "Template::Context" object. Configuration parameters may be specified as a HASH reference or as a list of "name => value" pairs.

    my $context = Template::Context->new({
        INCLUDE_PATH => 'header',
        POST_PROCESS => 'footer',
    });

    my $context = Template::Context->new( EVAL_PERL => 1 );

The "new()" method returns a "Template::Context" object or "undef" on error. In the latter case, a relevant error message can be retrieved by the error() class method or directly from the $Template::Context::ERROR package variable.

    my $context = Template::Context->new(\%config)
        || die Template::Context->error();

    my $context = Template::Context->new(\%config)
        || die $Template::Context::ERROR;

The following configuration items may be specified. Please see Template::Manual::Config for further details.

VARIABLES

The VARIABLES option can be used to specify a hash array of template variables.

    my $context = Template::Context->new({
        VARIABLES => {
            title   => 'A Demo Page',
            author  => 'Joe Random Hacker',
            version => 3.14,
        },
    };

BLOCKS

The BLOCKS option can be used to pre-define a default set of template blocks.

    my $context = Template::Context->new({
        BLOCKS => {
            header  => 'The Header.  [% title %]',
            footer  => sub { return $some_output_text },
            another => Template::Document->new({ ... }),
        },
    });

VIEWS

The VIEWS option can be used to pre-define one or more Template::View objects.

    my $context = Template::Context->new({
        VIEWS => [
            bottom => { prefix => 'bottom/' },
            middle => { prefix => 'middle/', base => 'bottom' },
            top    => { prefix => 'top/',    base => 'middle' },
        ],
    });

TRIM

The TRIM option can be set to have any leading and trailing whitespace automatically removed from the output of all template files and "BLOCK"s.

example:

    [% BLOCK foo %]

    Line 1 of foo

    [% END %]

    before
    [% INCLUDE foo %]
    after

output:

    before
    Line 1 of foo
    after

EVAL_PERL

The EVAL_PERL is used to indicate if "PERL" and/or "RAWPERL" blocks should be evaluated. It is disabled by default.

RECURSION

The RECURSION can be set to allow templates to recursively process themselves, either directly (e.g. template "foo" calls "INCLUDE foo") or indirectly (e.g. "foo" calls "INCLUDE bar" which calls "INCLUDE foo").

LOAD_TEMPLATES

The LOAD_TEMPLATES option can be used to provide a reference to a list of Template::Provider objects or sub-classes thereof which will take responsibility for loading and compiling templates.

    my $context = Template::Context->new({
        LOAD_TEMPLATES => [
            MyOrg::Template::Provider->new({ ... }),
            Template::Provider->new({ ... }),
        ],
    });

LOAD_PLUGINS

The LOAD_PLUGINS options can be used to specify a list of provider objects responsible for loading and instantiating template plugin objects.

    my $context = Template::Context->new({
        LOAD_PLUGINS => [
            MyOrg::Template::Plugins->new({ ... }),
            Template::Plugins->new({ ... }),
        ],
    });

LOAD_FILTERS

The LOAD_FILTERS option can be used to specify a list of provider objects for returning and/or creating filter subroutines.

    my $context = Template::Context->new({
        LOAD_FILTERS => [
            MyTemplate::Filters->new(),
            Template::Filters->new(),
        ],
    });

STASH

The STASH option can be used to specify a Template::Stash object or sub-class which will take responsibility for managing template variables.

    my $stash = MyOrg::Template::Stash->new({ ... });
    my $context = Template::Context->new({
        STASH => $stash,
    });

DEBUG

The DEBUG option can be used to enable various debugging features of the Template::Context module.

    use Template::Constants qw( :debug );

    my $template = Template->new({
        DEBUG => DEBUG_CONTEXT | DEBUG_DIRS,
    });

  template($name)
Returns a compiled template by querying each of the LOAD_TEMPLATES providers (instances of Template::Provider, or sub-class) in turn.

    $template = $context->template('header');

On error, a Template::Exception object of type '"file"' is thrown via "die()". This can be caught by enclosing the call to "template()" in an "eval" block and examining $@.

    eval { $template = $context->template('header') };
    if ($@) {
        print "failed to fetch template: $@\n";
    }

  plugin($name, \@args)
Instantiates a plugin object by querying each of the LOAD_PLUGINS providers. The default LOAD_PLUGINS provider is a Template::Plugins object which attempts to load plugin modules, according the various configuration items such as PLUGIN_BASE, LOAD_PERL, etc., and then instantiate an object via new(). A reference to a list of constructor arguments may be passed as the second parameter. These are forwarded to the plugin constructor.

Returns a reference to a plugin (which is generally an object, but doesn't have to be). Errors are thrown as Template::Exception objects with the type set to '"plugin"'.

    $plugin = $context->plugin('DBI', 'dbi:msql:mydbname');

  filter($name, \@args, $alias)
Instantiates a filter subroutine by querying the LOAD_FILTERS providers. The default LOAD_FILTERS provider is a Template::Filters object.

Additional arguments may be passed by list reference along with an optional alias under which the filter will be cached for subsequent use. The filter is cached under its own $name if $alias is undefined. Subsequent calls to "filter($name)" will return the cached entry, if defined. Specifying arguments bypasses the caching mechanism and always creates a new filter. Errors are thrown as Template::Exception objects with the type set to '"filter"'.

    # static filter (no args)
    $filter = $context->filter('html');

    # dynamic filter (args) aliased to 'padright'
    $filter = $context->filter('format', '%60s', 'padright');

    # retrieve previous filter via 'padright' alias
    $filter = $context->filter('padright');

  process($template, \%vars)
Processes a template named or referenced by the first parameter and returns the output generated. An optional reference to a hash array may be passed as the second parameter, containing variable definitions which will be set before the template is processed. The template is processed in the current context, with no localisation of variables performed. Errors are thrown as Template::Exception objects via "die()".

    $output = $context->process('header', { title => 'Hello World' });

  include($template, \%vars)
Similar to process(), but using localised variables. Changes made to any variables will only persist until the "include()" method completes.

    $output = $context->include('header', { title => 'Hello World' });

  insert($template)
This method returns the source content of a template file without performing any evaluation. It is used to implement the "INSERT" directive.

  throw($error_type, $error_message, \$output)
Raises an exception in the form of a Template::Exception object by calling "die()". This method may be passed a reference to an existing Template::Exception object; a single value containing an error message which is used to instantiate a Template::Exception of type '"undef"'; or a pair of values representing the exception "type" and "info" from which a Template::Exception object is instantiated. e.g.

    $context->throw($exception);
    $context->throw("I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that");
    $context->throw('denied', "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that");

The optional third parameter may be a reference to the current output buffer. This is then stored in the exception object when created, allowing the catcher to examine and use the output up to the point at which the exception was raised.

    $output .= 'blah blah blah';
    $output .= 'more rhubarb';
    $context->throw('yack', 'Too much yacking', \$output);

  catch($exception, \$output)
Catches an exception thrown, either as a reference to a Template::Exception object or some other value. In the latter case, the error string is promoted to a Template::Exception object of '"undef"' type. This method also accepts a reference to the current output buffer which is passed to the Template::Exception constructor, or is appended to the output buffer stored in an existing Template::Exception object, if unique (i.e. not the same reference). By this process, the correct state of the output buffer can be reconstructed for simple or nested throws.

  define_block($name, $block)
Adds a new block definition to the internal BLOCKS cache. The first argument should contain the name of the block and the second a reference to a Template::Document object or template sub-routine, or template text which is automatically compiled into a template sub-routine.

Returns a true value (the sub-routine or Template::Document reference) on success or undef on failure. The relevant error message can be retrieved by calling the error() method.

  define_filter($name, \&filter, $is_dynamic)
Adds a new filter definition by calling the store() method on each of the LOAD_FILTERS providers until accepted (in the usual case, this is accepted straight away by the one and only Template::Filters provider). The first argument should contain the name of the filter and the second a reference to a filter subroutine. The optional third argument can be set to any true value to indicate that the subroutine is a dynamic filter factory.

Returns a true value or throws a '"filter"' exception on error.

  define_vmethod($type, $name, $code)
This method is a wrapper around the Template::Stash define_vmethod() method. It can be used to define new virtual methods.

    # define a new scalar (item) virtual method
    $context->define_vmethod(
        item => ucfirst => sub {
            my $text = shift;
            return ucfirst $text;
        }
    )

  define_view($name, \%params)
This method allows you to define a named view.

    $context->define_view(
        my_view => {
            prefix => 'my_templates/'
        }
    );

The view is then accessible as a template variable.

    [% my_view.print(some_data) %]

  define_views($views)
This method allows you to define multiple named views. A reference to a hash array or list reference should be passed as an argument.

    $context->define_view({     # hash reference
        my_view_one => {
            prefix => 'my_templates_one/'
        },
        my_view_two => {
            prefix => 'my_templates_two/'
        }
    });

If you're defining multiple views of which one or more are based on other views in the same definition then you should pass them as a list reference. This ensures that they get created in the right order (Perl does not preserve the order of items defined in a hash reference so you can't guarantee that your base class view will be defined before your subclass view).

    $context->define_view([     # list referenence
        my_view_one => {
            prefix => 'my_templates_one/'
        },
        my_view_two => {
            prefix => 'my_templates_two/' ,
            base   => 'my_view_one',
        }
    ]);

The views are then accessible as template variables.

    [% my_view_one.print(some_data) %]
    [% my_view_two.print(some_data) %]

See also the VIEWS option.

  stash()
This method returns the Template::Stash object used internally to manage template variables.

  localise(\%vars)
Clones the stash to create a context with localised variables. Returns a reference to the newly cloned stash object which is also stored internally.

    $stash = $context->localise();

  delocalise()
Restore the stash to its state prior to localisation.

    $stash = $context->delocalise();

  visit(\%blocks)
This method is called by Template::Document objects immediately before they process their content. It is called to register any local "BLOCK" definitions with the context object so that they may be subsequently delivered on request.

  leave()
Compliment to the visit() method. Called by Template::Document objects immediately after they process their content.

  view()
This method creates a Template::View object bound to the context.

  reset()
Clears the local BLOCKS cache of any "BLOCK" definitions. Any initial set of BLOCKS specified as a configuration item to the constructor will be reinstated.

  debugging($flag, @args)
This method is used to control debugging output. It is used to implement the DEBUG directive.

The first argument can be "on" or "off" to enable or disable debugging respectively. The numerical values 0 and 1 can also be used if you prefer.

    $context->debugging('on');

Alternately, the first argument can be "format" to define a new debug message format. The second argument should be the format string which can contain any of the $file, $line or $text symbols to indicate where the relevant values should be inserted.

    # note single quotes to prevent interpolated of variables
    $context->debugging( format => '## $file line $line: $text' );

The final use of this method is to generate debugging messages themselves. The first argument should be "msg", followed by a reference to a hash array of value to insert into the debugging format string.

    $context->debugging(
        msg => {
            line => 20,
            file => 'example.tt',
            text => 'Trampoline! Trampoline!',
        }
    );

  AUTOLOAD
An "AUTOLOAD" method provides access to context configuration items.

    $stash     = $context->stash();
    $tflag     = $context->trim();
    $epflag    = $context->eval_perl();
    ...

AUTHOR
Andy Wardley <abw@wardley.org> <http://wardley.org/>

COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 1996-2022 Andy Wardley. All Rights Reserved.

This module is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.

SEE ALSO
Template, Template::Document, Template::Exception, Template::Filters, Template::Plugins, Template::Provider, Template::Service, Template::Stash