TypoScript Constants

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This page is a draft designed to be included in the Core manual: TypoScript Syntax and In-depth Study

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To insert at the end of Chapter 1.2. Syntax, before "Includes"

Constants

Declaring and using constants

TypoScript constants are declared in the "Constants" field of a TypoScript template. Example:

TS TypoScript:

styles.content.imgtext.maxW = 600

To use that constant in a TypoScript template, use the following syntax:

TS TypoScript:

temp.myimage.width = {$styles.content.imgtext.maxW}

Since constant declarations are TypoScript, you can use comments, operators and conditions.

Preparing for the constant editor

The Web > Template module contains the Constant Editor. With this editor it is possible to modify TypoScript constants in a user-friendly way. But only properly declared constants will readily appear in the Constant Editor. Here is an example:

TS TypoScript:

#cat=content,basic/cImage/a_maxw1; type=int+; label= Max Image Width: Maximum width in pixels a block of images inserted as content is allowed to consume.
styles.content.imgtext.maxW = 600

Let's check this syntax in depth: "cat" is the category of the constant definition. Several categories may be assigned though one is the standard. The category can consist of category, subcategory and a sorting
"type" is the type of the constant and defines of what nature the input file will be
"label" is a description label for the constant

Constant Types

Example:

TS TypoScript:

# cat=basic/xxx/010; type=string; label= string: my String
t1 = I am a string
 
# cat=basic/xxx/011; type=int; label= int: (Integer, may be negative)
t2 = -99
 
# cat=basic/xxx/012; type=int+; label= int+: (Integer, only positive)
t3 = 88
 
# cat=basic/xxx/013; type=offset; label= offset: (x and y values)
t4 = 88, 55
 
# cat=basic/xxx/010; type=color; label= color: a color picker
t5 = ff0000
 
# cat=basic/xxx/011; type=wrap; label= wrap: a Wrap
t51 = <b>|</b>
 
# cat=basic/xxx/011; type=options[de,en,fr,zh]; label= options[de, en, fr, zh] a drop down option field
t7 = de
 
# cat=basic/xxx/010; type=boolean; label= enable: a checkbox
t8 = 1
 
# cat=basic/xxx/010; type=file[png,jpg,gif]; label= file[png, jpg, gif] eine Datei
t9 = fileadmin/clear.gif
 
# cat=basic/xxx/010; type=small; label= small a short input field
t10 = xyz

Additionally a user defined field exists: "user" and a "comment" field for non-editable values exist.

Constant categories

The constants main category defines the page in the constant editor on which the constant will appear The following constant categories are predefined:

• 'basic': Important constants for the template layout. For example: dimensions, image files and feature flags. You almost always want to configure these constants.
• 'menu': Menu setup. This includes font files, sizes, background images. Depends on the menu type.
• 'content': All constants related to the display of page content elements
• 'page': General configuration like meta-tags, link targets, etc.
• 'advanced': Configures advanced, rarely used functions.
• 'all': A list of all constants.

Custom main categories can be defined for extensions. Example:

TS TypoScript:

# cat=plugin.tx_lot3blog/color/210; type=color; label=Tagcloud Minimum Color

The subcategories define the section in which the constant should appear. The following standard subcategories exist:

• 'enable': Enable features
• 'dims': Dimensions: widths, heights, pixels
• 'file': Files
• 'typo': Typography
• 'color': Colors
• 'links': Links and targets
• 'language': Language specific constants

Furthermore the following content-element-specific subcategories exist:

cheader, cheader_g, ctext, cimage, cbullets, ctable, cuploads, cmultimedia, cmailform, csearch, clogin, csplash, cmenu, cshortcut, clist, cscript, chtml

Source: (German) TYPO3 Konstanten im Konstanteneditor anzeigen