Use general syntax for template tags in Dreamweaver
Read this topic to know how to add syntax rules for template tags in Dreamweaver. Learn how to manually check template tags.

Dreamweaver uses HTML comment tags to specify regions in templates and template-based documents, so template-based documents are still valid HTML files. When you insert a template object, template tags are inserted in the code.

General syntax rules are as follows:

  • Wherever a space appears, you can substitute any amount of white space (spaces, tabs, line breaks). The white space is mandatory except at the very beginning or end of a comment.

  • Attributes can be given in any order. For example, in a TemplateParam, you can specify the type before the name.

  • Comment and attribute names are case sensitive.

  • All attributes must be in quotation marks. Single or double quotes can be used.

Template tags

Dreamweaver uses the following template tags:

<!-- TemplateBeginEditable name="..." --> 
<!-- TemplateEndEditable --> 
<!-- TemplateParam name="..." type="..." value="..." --> 
<!-- TemplateBeginRepeat name="..." --> 
<!-- TemplateEndRepeat --> 
<!-- TemplateBeginIf cond="..." --> 
<!-- TemplateEndIf --> 
<!-- TemplateBeginPassthroughIf cond="..." --> 
<!-- TemplateEndPassthroughIf --> 
<!-- TemplateBeginMultipleIf --> 
<!-- TemplateEndMultipleIf --> 
<!-- TemplateBeginPassthroughMultipleIf --> 
<!-- TemplateEndPassthroughMultipleIf --> 
<!-- TemplateBeginIfClause cond="..." --> 
<!-- TemplateEndIfClause --> 
<!-- TemplateBeginPassthroughIfClause cond="..." --> 
<!-- TemplateEndPassthroughIfClause --> 
<!-- TemplateExpr expr="..." --> (equivalent to @@...@@) 
<!-- TemplatePassthroughExpr expr="..." --> 
<!-- TemplateInfo codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked="..." -->

Instance tags

Dreamweaver uses the following instance tags:

<!-- InstanceBegin template="..." codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked="..." --> 
<!-- InstanceEnd --> 
<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="..." --> 
<!-- InstanceEndEditable --> 
<!-- InstanceParam name="..." type="..." value="..." passthrough="..." --> 
<!-- InstanceBeginRepeat name="..." --> 
<!-- InstanceEndRepeat --> 
<!-- InstanceBeginRepeatEntry --> 
<!-- InstanceEndRepeatEntry -->

Check template syntax

Dreamweaver checks the template syntax when you save a template, but you can manually check the template syntax prior to saving a template. For example, if you add a template parameter or expression in Code view, you can check that the code follows correct syntax.

  1. Open the document you want to check in the Document window.
  2. Select Tools > Templates > Check Template Syntax.

    An error message appears if the syntax is badly formed. The error message describes the error and refers to the specific line in the code where the error exists.