Template-related contexts

This page describes the differences that exist regarding the availability of variables, if they are defined on the form or on the presentation channel tab of a template.

At first, only an exemplary set of variables in a template is considered; these variables are detached from their relationships to other templates and other FirstSpirit objects. In the project context, the availability of variables, which are defined in templates, can differ (see Project-related contexts page).

Availability of variables within a template

Validity of variables in a section

In templates (e.g. section templates), variables

• which are defined on the Form tab are available to the entire instance of the template (e.g. to an entire section in the Page Store, which is based on this template),
• which are defined on a Presentation Channel tab are available to the instance of the template (e.g. to an entire section in the Page Store, which is based on this template) from the point of value assignment onwards.

Validity of variables in several sections of a section template

On the other hand, the value assigned to a variable

• which is defined on the Form tab is only available to the respective instance of the template (e.g. to an entire section in the Page Store, which is based on this template),
• which is defined on a Presentation Channel tab is available to all instances (e.g. all sections), which are based on this template (however, also not until after the moment of value assignment).

See also Defining variables via templates.

Here an instance always refers to the use of a template (page, section, table, format, link template) in the Page or Content Store or in the Global Content Areas.

Variable definition on form or presentation channel tab?

Normally, in each instance of a template (i.e. each individual section or each individual page) the variable values are assigned by the editor; the relevant variable is defined on the Form tab. These values are then normally only available in the same instance.

If a value is to be available in several pages or sections (instances) and therefore to be more universal,

• the corresponding variable must be defined on the Output tab or
• in a so-called "higher context" (see Reuse and inheritance).

On the other hand, the type of value assignment also plays a role: the editor assigns values to variables on the Form tab, the template developer assigns values to variables on the presentation channel tabs (see also Value assignment).

However, the editor can also be allowed to affect the values set by the template developer, for example, if an input component is used with the same variable name so that the value set by the template developer can be overwritten (see also overwriting variables).

Summary