Functions

Functions allow you to manipulate data in your template

Documint uses an enhanced version of Handlebars as its templating engine. This means all valid Handlebars syntax is valid Documint syntax. Below is a list of custom functions that can be used in your Documint templates.

Combining Functions

You can combine functions by wrapping the inner function in parenthesis.

//Example
{{$multiply ($add amount_1 amount_2) ($add amount_3 amount_4)}}

Here we're using the $add function to sum two sets of values then multiplying them together. Functions in parenthesis will be evaluated first and returned to its parent function.

General

$calc (beta)

The $calc function is a powerful expression evaluator that enables complex calculations, string manipulations, array operations, and provides a secure sandbox environment within your templates.

$calc (beta)

$var

Creates a custom variable in your template which you can access from other parts of your template

Note:

Variables must be added to templates before (higher up in the template) they are used.

Examples

Good: {{$var "tax_rate" 0.07}} //Variable is declared before it is used

Tax Rate: {{$number tax_rate "0%"}}

Bad:

Tax Rate: {{$number tax_rate "0%"}}

{{$var "tax_rate" 0.07}} //Variable is declared after it is used

Signature

{{$var name value}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
name	The name of the variable. This will be used to access it later. Must be a valid JavaScript key	String
value	The value of the variable	Any

Returns

This function does not have a return value.

Example #1 - Basic

Template

{{$var "custom_var" "Custom value"}}
...
{{custom_var}} // Used somewhere else in the template after the above declaration

Result

Custom value

Example #2 - Advanced

Template

Create a custom variable and set the value to the results of the filter function where we filter items that have a quantity of 10 or more.

Repeat the section for each item in the custom variable

Data

{
  "items":[
    {
      "name": "Item #1",
      "qty": 5
    },
    {
      "name": "Item #2",
      "qty": 10
    },
    {
      "name": "Item #3",
      "qty": 15
    },
    {
      "name": "Item #4",
      "qty": 20
    }
  ]
}

Result

Variables can only be accessed after the point in the template where they are declared.

Math

$add

Add two numbers together

Signature

{{$add number1 number2 [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
number1	The first number in an addition.	Number
number2	The second number in an addition.	Number
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the total.

Example

Template

{{$add subtotal tax}}

Data

{
    "subtotal":100,
    "tax": 7.50
}

Result

107.5

$subtract

Subtracts the second number from the first number.

Signature

{{$subtract number1 number2 [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
number1	The first number in a subtraction.	Number
number2	The second number in a subtraction.	Number
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the total.

Example

Template

{{$subtract subtotal discount}}

Data

{
    "subtotal":100,
    "discount": 21.5
}

Result

78.5

$multiply

Multiplies two numbers together.

Signature

{{$multiply number1 number2 [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
number1	The first number in a multiplication.	Number
number2	The second number in a multiplication.	Number
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the product.

Example

Template

{{$multiply subtotal .075}}

Data

{
    "subtotal": 150
}

Result

11.25

$divide

Divides the first number by the second number.

Signature

{{$divide dividend divisor [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
dividend	The first number in a division.	Number
divisor	The second number in a division.	Number
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the total.

Example

Template

{{$divide wins total_games}}

Data

{
    "wins": 3,
    "total_games": 15
}

Result

.2

$sum

Computes the sum of the values.

This function has multiple signatures

Signature 1

{{$sum array [format]}}

Computes the sum of numbers in an array.

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
array	List of numbers to sum.	Number Array
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Example

Template

{{$sum hours_worked}}

Data

{
    "hours_worked": [3, 6, 4, 12]
}

Result

25

Returns

Returns the total.

Signature 2

{{$sum number1 number2 [...] [format]}}

Computes the sum of numbers passed as arguments.

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
number1	The first number to sum.	Number
number2	The second number to sum.	Number
[...]	The remaining numbers to sum.	Number
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Example

Template

{{$sum subtotal discount tax}}

Data

{
    "subtotal": 150,
    "discount": -20,
    "tax": 6.50
}

Result

136.5

Returns

Returns the total.

Signature 3

{{$sum collection path [format]}}

Computes the sum of numbers within a collection (an array of objects).

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
collection	An array of objects	Collection
path	Path to the number property on each object.	String
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Example

Template

{{$sum items "price"}}

Data

{
    "items": [
        { "name":"Rocket Skates", "price":160.3 },
        { "name":"Acme Glue", "price":15.6 },
        { "name":"Wing Suit", "price":699.99 },
    ]
}

Result

875.89

Returns

Returns the total.

$min

Computes the minimum number in an array.

Signature

{{$min array [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
array	Array of numbers.	Number Array
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the minimum value.

Example

Template

{{$min scores}}

Data

{
    "scores": [ 3, 22, 9, 15 ]
}

Result

3

$max

Computes the maximum number in an array.

Signature

{{$max array [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
array	Array of numbers.	Number Array
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the maiximum value.

Example

Template

{{$max scores}}

Data

{
    "scores": [ 3, 22, 9, 15 ]
}

Result

22

$mean

Computes the average of all values in an array.

Signature

{{$mean array [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
array	Array of numbers.	Number Array
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the average value.

Example

Template

{{$mean scores}}

Data

{
    "scores": [ 3, 22, 9, 15 ]
}

Result

12.25

$round

Computes number rounded to precision.

Signature

{{$round number [precision=0] [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
number	Array of numbers.	Number
precision	Decimal precision to round to. Default=0	Number
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the rounded value.

Example

Template

{{$round avg_age}}

Data

{
    "avg_age": 39.486
}

Result

39

$floor

Computes number rounded down to precision.

Signature

{{$floor number [precision=0] [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
number	Array of numbers.	Number
precision	Decimal precision to round down to. Default=0	Number
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the rounded down value.

Example

Template

{{$floor avg_age}}

Data

{
    "avg_age": 39.682
}

Result

39

$ceil

Computes number rounded up to precision.

Signature

{{$ceil number [precision=0] [format]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
number	Array of numbers.	Number
precision	Decimal precision to round down to. Default=0	Number
format	Format string used to format the result	String

Returns

Returns the rounded-up value.

Example

Template

{{$ceil avg_age}}

Data

{
    "avg_age": 39.182
}

Result

40

List/Arrays

#each

Loops over an array (list) of items. This is different than the other functions because it has an opening ({{#each}}) and closing ({{/each}}) tag and uses an # instead of a $ to prefix the function name. The content within the opening and closing tags is set to the context of the current item in the loop. This means that any variables used within the opening and closing tags are relative to the current item in the loop. If the list of items being looped over is a list of objects, then variable names will represent properties on that object. See example below.

Signature

{{#each array }}{{this}}{{/each}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
array	List of items to repeat/loop over	String ArrayNumber ArrayBoolean ArrayObject ArrayArray Array

Returns

Content within the opening and closing tags, for each item in the given array/list.

Example - Array of Objects

In this example we're looping over an array/list of Objects. We can access the properties of the current object in the loop simply by using the name of the property. In the case below, we're displaying the name property of each object using the {{name}} token. This works because the within the opening and closing tags of the #each function, the context is set to the current item in the loop.

Template

{{#each characters}}{{name}}, {{/each}}

Data

{
    "characters": [
        { "name": "Wile E. Coyote", "email":"[e-mail]" },
        { "name": "Road Runer",     "email":"[e-mail]" }
    ]
}

Result

Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner

Example - Array of Strings

In this example, we're looping over an array/list of Strings. We use the this keyword to reference the current item in the loop. this always represents the current item in the loop, even when looping over data types other than Strings.

Template

{{#each characters}}{{this}}, {{/each}}

Data

{
    "characters": [ "Wile E. Coyote", "Road Runer" ]
}

Result

Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner

$filter

Filters an array/list of items.

Signature

{{$filter array pathoperator [value]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
array	Accepts either an array of data or a relative path, as a String, to an array.	StringString ArrayNumber ArrayObject Array
path	Path to property if looping over an array/list of Objects. Note: If looping over a list of Strings, Numbers or Booleans then this should be the operator.	String
operator	The operator used to evaluate each item in the array/list. Note: If looping over an array/list of Strings, Numbers or Booleans then this should be the value to check against.	String
value	The value to compare variable's value to. Required when using an operator that requries two arguments.	StringNumberBoolean

Example - Array of Objects

Template

{{$filter products "category" "isIn" "Disguise,Explosive"}}

Data

{
  "products": [
    { "name":"Batman Costume", "category":"Disguise" }, 
    { "name":"TNT", "category":"Explosive" },
    { "name":"Jet-Propelled Unicycle", "category":"Transportation" }
  ]
}

Result

[
  { "name":"Batman Costume", "category":"Disguise" }, 
  { "name":"TNT", "category":"Explosive" }
]

Video walk-through of the filter process

$group

Group items together and create a loop of those items

Video walk-through of the group process

$join

Concatenates an array (list) of items into a string.

Signature

{{$join array [path] [separator] [final] }}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
array	Accepts either an array of data or a relative path, as a String, to an array.	StringString ArrayNumber ArrayObject Array
path	If the array is a collection (an array of objects) then use this path to specify which property in the object should be concatenated. Default value: ", "	String
separator	String that separates each item in the array.	String
final	The string that's used to separate the last two items.	String

Example #1 - Array of strings

Template

{{$join categories ", " " & "}}

Data

{
  "categories": ["Disguise", "Explosive", "Transportation"]
}

Result

Disguise, Maintenance & Transportation

Example #2- Collection (array of objects)

Template

{{$join items "name" ", " " & "}}

Data

{
  "items": [
    { "name": "Glue V1", "price": 9.99 },
    { "name": "Artificial Rock", "price": 26.99 },
    { "name": "Bat-Man's Outfit", "price": 159.99 }
  ]
}

Result

Glue V1, Artificial Rock & Bat-Man's Outfit

Example #3 - Path to array

Template

{{$join "company.employees" "name" ", " " & "}}

Data

{
  "company": {
    "name": "Acme Co.",
    "employees": [
      {
        "name": "Bernadine Burton",
        "role": "Decoy"
      },
      {
        "name": "Good Battle",
        "role": "Field Agent"
      },
      {
        "name": "Dennis Miles",
        "role": "Field Agent"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Result

Bernadine Burton, Good Battle & Dennis Miles

Helpers

$extname

Returns the extension name of a filename.

Signature

{{$extname filename }}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
filename	The name of the file that you're trying to get the extension name of.	String

Example

Template

{{$extname filename}}

Data

{
  "filename": "https://acmec.co/assets/image.jpg"
}

Result

jpg

$inspect

Displays the raw merge data used to create the document. Useful for debugging your template when merging documents.

Signature

{{$inspect [expandDepth=1]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
expandDepth	The number of levels deep to expand nested objects and arrays. Unexpaded objects will will display as [object Object] and unexpected arrays will display as [array Object]	StringNumber

Example

Template

{{$inspect 2}}

Data

{
    "name":"Order 2321",
    "account":[
        {
            "name":"Acme Co.",
            "address":{
                "street": "123 Main St.",
                "city": "New York",
                "state": "New York"
            }
        }
    ],
    "items":[
        { "name":"Widget 1", "price":123, "qty": 1, "amount": 123 },
        { "name":"Widget 2", "price":321, "qty": 1, "amount": 321 },
        { "name":"Widget 3", "price": 456, "qty": 1, "amount": 456 },
    ]
}

Result

Content

$iframe

Documentation coming soon!

$link

Creates a link to a given URL

Signature

{{$link url [text]}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
url	URL value of the link	String
text	Text to display in document. If no value is provided the URL of the link will be displayed	String

Returns

Link to the given URL.

Example

Template

{{$link company.website}}
{{$link company.website company.name}}

Data

{
    "company":{
        "name":"Acme Co.",
        "website":"https://www.acme.co"
    }
}

Result

https://www.acme.co

Acme Co.

$md

Renders markdown content

Signature

{{$md content}}

Arguments

Name	Description	Type	Required
content	Markdown content	String

Example

Template

{{$md notes}}

Data

{
    "notes":"Before moving forward you need to complete the following items:\n[ ] Checklist item one\n[x] Checklist item two\n[ ] Checklist item three\n"
}

Result

Troubleshooting

Spaces at the end of content wrapped in tags such as ** will render the tags as raw text.

Example:

"Howdy, **Partner! **" renders as **Howdy, Partner! **

"Howdy, **Partner!**" renders as Howdy, Partner!