File Template Resources {#resources.file}

Smarty ships with a built-in template resource for the filesystem. The file: is the default resource. The resource key file: must only be specified, if the $default_resource_type has been changed.

If the file resource cannot find the requested template, the $default_template_handler_func is invoked.

Note

As of Smarty 3.1 the file resource no longer walks through the include_path unless $use_include_path is activated

Templates from \$template_dir {#templates.from.template.dir}

The file resource pulls templates source files from the directories specified in $template_dir. The list of directories is traversed in the order they appear in the array. The first template found is the one to process.

<?php
$smarty->display('index.tpl');
$smarty->display('file:index.tpl'); // same as above
?>

From within a Smarty template

{include file='index.tpl'}
{include file='file:index.tpl'} {* same as above *}

Templates from a specific \$template_dir {#templates.from.specified.template.dir}

Smarty 3.1 introduced the bracket-syntax for specifying an element from $template_dir. This allows websites employing multiple sets of templates better control over which template to access.

The bracket-syntax can be used from anywhere you can specify the file: resource type.

<?php

// setup template directories
$smarty->setTemplateDir(array(
    './templates',            // element: 0, index: 0
    './templates_2',          // element: 1, index: 1
    '10' => 'templates_10',   // element: 2, index: '10'
    'foo' => 'templates_foo', // element: 3, index: 'foo'
));

/*
  assume the template structure
  ./templates/foo.tpl
  ./templates_2/foo.tpl
  ./templates_2/bar.tpl
  ./templates_10/foo.tpl
  ./templates_10/bar.tpl
  ./templates_foo/foo.tpl
*/

// regular access
$smarty->display('file:foo.tpl'); 
// will load ./templates/foo.tpl

// using numeric index
$smarty->display('file:[1]foo.tpl'); 
// will load ./templates_2/foo.tpl

// using numeric string index
$smarty->display('file:[10]foo.tpl'); 
// will load ./templates_10/foo.tpl

// using string index
$smarty->display('file:[foo]foo.tpl'); 
// will load ./templates_foo/foo.tpl

// using "unknown" numeric index (using element number)
$smarty->display('file:[2]foo.tpl'); 
// will load ./templates_10/foo.tpl

?>

From within a Smarty template

{include file="file:foo.tpl"}
{* will load ./templates/foo.tpl *}

{include file="file:[1]foo.tpl"}
{* will load ./templates_2/foo.tpl *}

{include file="file:[foo]foo.tpl"}
{* will load ./templates_foo/foo.tpl *}

Templates from any directory {#templates.from.any.dir}

Templates outside of the $template_dir require the file: template resource type, followed by the absolute path to the template (with leading slash.)

Note

With Security enabled, access to templates outside of the $template_dir is not allowed unless you list those directories in $secure_dir.

<?php
$smarty->display('file:/export/templates/index.tpl');
$smarty->display('file:/path/to/my/templates/menu.tpl');
?>

And from within a Smarty template:

{include file='file:/usr/local/share/templates/navigation.tpl'}

Windows Filepaths {#templates.windows.filepath}

If you are using a Windows machine, filepaths usually include a drive letter (C:) at the beginning of the pathname. Be sure to use file: in the path to avoid namespace conflicts and get the desired results.

<?php
$smarty->display('file:C:/export/templates/index.tpl');
$smarty->display('file:F:/path/to/my/templates/menu.tpl');
?>

And from within Smarty template:

{include file='file:D:/usr/local/share/templates/navigation.tpl'}