[stringtemplate-interest] [antlr-interest] StringTemplate functions like capitalize()?

[Nate]

Calling an arbitrary method from ST is against the rules, but the action 
the OP is trying to perform is for display only. The only real solution 
is to get the ST source and add a capitalizeFirst function. Other 
solutions are clunky at the very least.

On a similar note, I have found the lack of ST expressiveness a problem. 
I have lists of objects that contain the data I want to display. In many 
cases the objects contain lists of other objects. When the data in my 
objects are not in such a format that ST can display them like I want, I 
find I have to modify my objects to expose the data in the way ST needs. 
What this means is that the UI layer is affecting my API. For simple 
templates, values can be retreived from an object and put in various 
template attributes. But more complex object graphs make this very messy 
and difficult, if not impossible.

I am all for separating model and view, but I don't think view-only 
logic expressiveness should be lost. As it is now with ST being 
relatively strict with enforcing the "rules", there are still various 
ways I can break the separation. 100% fool proof would make ST too 
restrictive and difficult to use. You have made certain sacrifices and 
this makes sense. I think ST should follow all the rules out of the box 
and enforce them to the best of its ability, but make it easier to 
implement view-only logic. It should be easy to add a view method like 
capitalizeFirst.

-Nate


Terence Parr wrote:
> Hi, That is against the "rules".  Can't call generate code from a view.
>
> You need a renderer or the like.
>
> ter
> On Mar 18, 2007, at 4:16 AM, Joan Pujol wrote:
>
>   
>> Hello,
>>
>> It's possible to call a external function with stringtemplate?
>> I've the problem that I'm generating Java code and for Beans  
>> convention I need to capitalize.
>>
>> Something like:
>>
>> basictype(name,type)::= <<
>>     private final <typeMap.(type)> name= new <typeMap.(type)>();
>>
>>     public <typeMap.(type)> get<name>()   {  capitalization wanted  
>> in get<name>()
>>         return <name>;
>>     }
>>
>>     
>> -- 
>> Joan Jesús Pujol Espinar
>> http://www.joanpujol.cat
>> http://lujop.deviantart.com
>>