CATE is a simple but powerful template engine for Classic ASP with an easy to learn syntax similar to other template engines.

{{if(PAGE_TITLE)}}
   {{INCLUDE[header.tpl]}}
{{endif}}
{if(test=true)}}
   {{PAGE_CONTENT}}
{{else}}
   No content to display.
{{endif}}
{{if(PAGE_TITLE)}}
   {{INCLUDE[footer.tpl]}}
{{endif}}

<!-- #include virtual="/path/to/template.asp" -->
<%
    set TENGINE = new TemplateEngine
    TENGINE.TemplateDirectory = "/path/to/templates/"
    TENGINE.add "PAGE_TITLE", "Test"
    TENGINE.add "PAGE_CONTENT", "Testing"
    TENGINE.add "test", "true"
    outcontent = TENGINE.parse("testing.tpl")
    Response.Write outcontent
    set TENGINE = nothing
%>

<!-- #include virtual="/path/to/template.asp" -->
<%
    set TENGINE = new TemplateEngine
    TENGINE.TemplateDirectory = "/path/to/templates/"
    TENGINE.CacheDatabaseTable = "cache_table_name"
    TENGINE.CacheDatabaseFields = array("key_column","value_column")
    TENGINE.CacheDatabaseConnect = "my db connect string"
    TENGINE.CacheToDatabase = true
    TENGINE.add "PAGE_TITLE", "Test"
    TENGINE.add "PAGE_CONTENT", "Testing"
    TENGINE.add "test", "true"
    outcontent = TENGINE.parse("testing.tpl")
    Response.Write outcontent
    set TENGINE = nothing
%>

<!-- #include virtual="/path/to/template.asp" -->
<%
    set TENGINE = new TemplateEngine
    TENGINE.TemplateDirectory = "/path/to/templates/"
    TENGINE.CacheDirectory = "/path/to/cache/dir/"
    TENGINE.EnableCache = true
    TENGINE.add "PAGE_TITLE", "Test"
    TENGINE.add "PAGE_CONTENT", "Testing"
    TENGINE.add "test", "true"
    outcontent = TENGINE.parse("testing.tpl")
    Response.Write outcontent
    set TENGINE = nothing
%>

• add( variable_name, value )

  Adds the variable to the list of items to be replaced in templates. Maps to {{variable_name}} in the template. Returns true if the variable was newly added or false if the variable already exists.

• apply( template_file )

  Performs a simple substitution of all named variables in the specified template file. Does not handle commands like if or include but is much faster. Returns a string containing the template file with variables replaced or an error message.

• parse( template_file )

  Similar to apply but also parses the template file for commands. Returns a string containing the template file with commands parsed and variables replaced or an error message.

• replaceValue( variable_name, value )

  Replaces the named variables value with the specified value. Returns true if the variable was replaced or false if it does not exist.

• EnableCache (read/write)

  Enable caching of output. For large or complex files potentially save time processing files by caching their output. Cached files are based on both the available variables and their values as well as the template file name. This cacheing process is deterministic so the same inputs/values/file will always give the same output.

• CacheDirectory (read/write)

  Sets the base directory to store and look for cached files in. The default value is /cache/

• CacheFilename (read/write)

  Set the template to use when building the filename of a cache file. Three variables are replaced in the filename to enable their uniqueness. The default value is: {{VARHASH}}.{{VALHASH}}.{{FILE}}.cache

• CacheToDatabase (read/write)

  Enable caching output to a database, call after setting other database options. Will turn the EnableCache property to true if it is not set.

• CacheDatabaseTable (read/write)

  The name of the database table to store cached date in.

• CacheDatabaseFields (read/write)

  The names of the fields used to store the content in. This value is and array with the name of the key field first and the name of the value field second. The columns in the database should be large enough to store the data, the key field should be 64 + MAX_FILE_PATH and the value field should be either TEXT or varchar(MAX).

• CacheDatabaseConnect (read/write)

  The connection string to use to connect to your database.

• TemplateDirectory (read/write)

  Sets the base directory to look for template files in. When looking for templates the engine itself calls Server.MapPath on the path so all paths should be virtual, i.e. relative to the wwwroot directory. Default = ""

• WarnOnUnusedTags (read/write)

  This option controls whether the engine will output an error message if unparsed tags are left in its output. Set to true to enable or false to disable. Default = false

• Items (read-only)

  Returns the underlying Dictionary collection storing the variables and their values.

• {{IF(expression)}}

  Outputs the content following the IF statement until an ELSE or ENDIF statement is reached only if the expression is true. The expression takes the following forms:

  • variable_name=value

    > The named variable's value is tested against the string value on the
      right side of the equal sign (=) and the expression is considered
      true if they match.
    

  • variable_name

    > This expression form is considered true if the named variable
      exists in the Items collection.
    

• {{ELSE}}

  Outputs the content following the ELSE statement until an ENDIF statement is reached if the preceding IF statement expression evaluates to false.

• {{ENDIF}}

  Ends an IF statement.

• {{INCLUDE[template_file]}}

  Parses the contents of the specified file and places them at the point of the INCLUDE statement.