View source for Introduction to template parameters

To see an example of template parameters in action, go into '''Extensions → Template Manager''' and click on the ''rhuk_milkyway'' template.  You will see, on the '''Template: [Edit]''' screen that there is a ''Parameters'' group containing a couple of fields called ''Colour Variation'' and ''Background Variation''.  See illustration below.  These are typical template parameters and in this case they control the colour scheme of the template.

[[Image:template-parameters.png]]

Template parameters allow the administrator to adjust the behaviour of a template using a form in the Administrator.  What parameters are available and what they do is down to the template designer, but designers now have a set of easy-to-use tools for building flexibility into their templates.  For the designer, this involves making changes to three elements:

* Adding a <tt><param></tt> element to the <tt><params></tt> section of the ''templateDetails.xml'' file.  <noinclude>See [[Defining a parameter in templateDetails.xml]].</noinclude>
* Adding a line to a ''params.ini'' file which will hold the current value of the parameter.  <noinclude>See [[Storing parameter values]].</noinclude>
* Adding code to the template PHP file to retrieve the current value of the parameter and act on it.  <noinclude>See [[Retrieving parameter data in a template file]].</noinclude>
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