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Using gettemplatevariables with ##
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Posted by admin  · 23-09-2022 - 05:44

Hello,

By default, phpdocx allows using a single symbol ($#|...) or ${ } to wrap placeholders.

Using a not unique placeholder distinct than ${ }, such as #{ }, ####, {{ }}, [], [[]]... requires customizing the static variable CreateDocxFromTemplate::$regExprVariableSymbols. You can read this same information on the documentation page of the setTemplateSymbol method (https://www.phpdocx.com/api-documentation/templates/set-Word-template-placeholder-variable-symbol):

Different at the beginning and the end: ${VAR}. phpdocx requires using ${ } to wrap placeholders that don't use the same symbol at the beginning and the end, to use other symbols the public static variable CreateDocxFromTemplate::$regExprVariableSymbols must be customized.

CreateDocxFromTemplate::$regExprVariableSymbols is a public static variable with a regular expression that must match the symbols you want to use to wrap placeholders (as this is a regular expression, please note you need to escape protected characters in regular expressions such as [ ]).

We recommend using the default symbols to wrap placeholders:

  • A single symbol (1 byte character): $VAR$, #VAR#, |VAR|...
  • Or ${ }: ${VAR}

that it's the easiest way.

As explained previously, using not unique simbols different to the default ${ } requires customizing CreateDocxFromTemplate::$regExprVariableSymbols, for example, the following code:

CreateDocxFromTemplate::$regExprVariableSymbols = '##(.*)##';
$docx->setTemplateSymbol('##', '##');

print_r($docx->getTemplateVariables());

sets ## as symbols to wrap placeholders. Please note that this custom code may require some minor adjustments to get the exact regular expression to be used in your templates, for example a more generic selector:

CreateDocxFromTemplate::$regExprVariableSymbols = '#(.*)#(.*)#(.*)#';

On the following topics you can find a similar information using other symbols:

https://www.phpdocx.com/en/forum/default/topic/2160

https://www.phpdocx.com/en/forum/default/topic/2172

Although following the previous information your code will work correctly, you can also send a sample DOCX template to contact[at]phpdocx.com and we'll generate a sample script using it.

Regards.