IntelliJ IDEA 2017.2 Help

File Template Variables

Basics

A file template can contain template variables. When a template is applied, the variables are replaced with their values.

A file template variable is a string that starts with a dollar sign which is followed by the variable name. The variable name may be enclosed in curly braces. For example: $MyVariable or ${MyVariable}.

Predefined template variables

IntelliJ IDEA comes with a set of predefined template variables.

The available predefined file template variables are:

  • ${PACKAGE_NAME} - the name of the target package where the new class or interface will be created.
  • ${PROJECT_NAME} - the name of the current project.
  • ${FILE_NAME} - the name of the PHP file that will be created.
  • ${NAME} - the name of the new file which you specify in the New File dialog box during the file creation.
  • ${USER} - the login name of the current user.
  • ${DATE} - the current system date.
  • ${TIME} - the current system time.
  • ${YEAR} - the current year.
  • ${MONTH} - the current month.
  • ${DAY} - the current day of the month.
  • ${HOUR} - the current hour.
  • ${MINUTE} - the current minute.
  • ${PRODUCT_NAME} - the name of the IDE in which the file will be created.
  • ${MONTH_NAME_SHORT} - the first 3 letters of the month name. Example: Jan, Feb, etc.
  • ${MONTH_NAME_FULL} - full name of a month. Example: January, February, etc.

IntelliJ IDEA provides a set of additional variables for PHP include templates, that is, templates of reusable fragments that can be included in other PHP file template. The built-in PHP include templates are intended for generating file headers and PHPDoc documentation comments. The following variables are available in PHP include templates:

  • ${NAME} - the name of the class, field, or function (method) for which the PHPDoc comment will be generated.
  • ${NAMESPACE} - the fully qualified name (without a leading slash) of the class or field namespace.
  • ${CLASS_NAME} - the name of the class where the field to generate the PHPDoc comment for is defined.
  • ${STATIC} - gets the value static if the function (method) or field to generate the comment for is static. Otherwise evaluates to an empty string.
  • ${TYPE_HINT} - a prompt for the return value of the function (method) to generate the comment for. If the return type cannot be detected through the static analysis of the function (method), evaluates to void.
  • ${PARAM_DOC} - - a documentation comment for parameters. Evaluates to a set of lines @param type name. If the function to generate comments for does not contain any parameters, the variable evaluates to empty content.
  • ${THROWS_DOC} - a documentation comment for exceptions. Evaluates to a set of lines @throws type. If the function to generate comments for does not throw any exceptions, the variable evaluates to empty content.
  • ${DS} - a dollar character ($). The variable evaluates to a plain dollar character ($) and is used when you need to escape this symbol so it is not treated as a prefix of a variable.
  • ${CARET} - indicated the position of the caret after generating and adding the comment.

    This ${CARET} variable is applied only when a PHPDoc comment is generated and inserted during file creation. When a PHPDoc comment is created through Code | Generate | PHPDoc block, multiple selection of functions or methods is available so documentation comments can be created to several classes, functions, methods, or fields. As a result, IntelliJ IDEA cannot "choose" the block to apply the ${CARET} variable in, therefore in this case the ${CARET} variable is ignored.

Custom template variables

In addition to the predefined template variables, it is possible to specify custom variables. If necessary, you can define the values of custom variables right in a template using the #set VTL directive.

For example, if you want to use your full name instead of your login name defined through the pre-defined variable ${USER}, write the following construct:

#set( $MyName = "John Smith" )

If the value of a variable is not defined in the template, IntelliJ IDEA will ask you to specify it when the template is applied.

You can prevent treating dollar characters ($) in template variables as prefixes. If you need a dollar character ($ inserted as is, use the ${DS} file template variable instead. When the template is applied, this variable evaluates to a plain dollar character ($).

Last modified: 29 November 2017

See Also