TemplateFile - how to create without existing disk file

[Gazley]

Hi there,

I have a "partial" based system where I have a class name (some_partial.php) and an associated ".html" file (some_partial.inc). If the class exists as a "partial", when rendered, it creates a TemplateFile using the path to its associated .html file.

I've now a scenario where there are advantages to have the data that was in the .html file actually stored in a PW "page" (/partials/some_partial). When the partial instantiates, if it can't find a disk based .html file, it checks to see if there is a PW "page based partial". The HTML is in the page's body field. However, TemplateFile wants a file path to construct an instance.

Is there a way to get a TemplateFile instance using the html data in my $page->body memory variable?

Thanks. 

[Wanze]

You can construct a TemplateFile object without a filename, but there will be a problem with the render method if you haven't set a filename:

public function ___render() {
  if(!$this->filename || !is_file($this->filename)) return ''; 

You could hook after TemplateFile::render() and check for the return value. If it's empty, return your $page->body content.

[Gazley]

Thanks Wanze - that's a nice suggestion.