PhpStorm 2021.1 Help

Templates with multiple files

Some programming patterns and frameworks require a set of related files, usually with a very specific structure. For example, with the model-view-controller (MVC) pattern, you need separate files for the model, view, and controller.

In PhpStorm, you can create sets of related files by adding child templates to a file template. When you create a file from such a template, it will also create files from child templates.

Create a template with multiple files

  1. In the Settings/Preferences dialog Ctrl+Alt+S, select Editor | File and Code Templates.

  2. Create the main file template.

    On the Files tab, click the Create Template button and specify the name, file extension, and body of the template.

  3. Select the new template in the list and click The Create Child Template File button on the toolbar. Specify the name, file extension, and body of the child template.

Example: Template for the Symfony Controller/Twig Template pair

Let's say you want to create a Symfony Controller and the associated Twig Template. This tutorial shows how you can add a template to create both files at once.

  1. In the Settings/Preferences dialog Ctrl+Alt+S, select Editor | File and Code Templates.

  2. Create the Controller class template.

    On the Files tab, click the Create Template button and specify the following:

    • Name: Symfony Controller

    • Extension: php

    • File name: ${NAME}Controller

    The resulting controller class will have the provided name with Controller appended to it, such as ExampleController.

  3. Create the Twig template.

    Select the created Symfony Controller template in the list and click The Create Child Template File button in the toolbar. Specify the following:

    • File name: ../../templates/${NAME.toLowerCase()}/index.html

    • Extension: twig

    The resulting Twig Template file will have the name index.html.twig. It will be stored in a subfolder under templates, whose name will correspond to the controller class.

  4. Click OK to apply the changes.

  5. To use the new template, right-click a directory in the Project tool window or press Alt+Insert, select the Symfony Controller template, and specify a name for the controller class. PhpStorm will create both the controller class and Twig template files.

Example of using Live Templates
Last modified: 15 June 2021