Reference - Macro methods
Macro expressions allow you to use a large variety of methods. The following categories list the methods according to the type of provided functionality:
- Data manipulation
- Data conversion
- Text manipulation
- Advanced text processing
- Date and time modification
- Mathematical operations
- User membership and permissions
- Transformations
Keep in mind that the recommended macro syntax is to use infix notation for the first parameter of methods.
For example: {% “word”.ToUpper() %} instead of {% ToUpper(“word”) %}
Data manipulation
Method |
Return type |
Parameters |
Description |
GetValue |
object |
|
Gets the value of the specified data column of an object that implements the ISimpleDataContainer interface. You can specify a default value used if the requested data is null. |
GetProperty |
object |
|
Gets the value of the specified property of an IHierarchicalObject object. You can specify a default value used if the requested property is null. |
GetItem |
object |
|
Gets the object at the specified index of a collection. You can specify a default value used if the requested object is null. |
OrderBy |
AbstractObjectCollection |
|
Returns the collection of objects, with the order defined by the specified SQL ORDER BY clause. |
Where |
AbstractObjectCollection |
|
Filters a collection of objects according to the specified SQL Where condition. |
TopN |
AbstractObjectCollection |
|
Returns only the specified number of objects in the collection. |
Columns |
AbstractObjectCollection |
|
Returns the collection of objects containing only the specified data columns. Separate the columns using commas. |
Filter |
InfoObjectCollection |
|
Filters a collection of objects according to the specified macro condition. |
ClassNames |
TreeNodeCollection |
|
Filters a TreeNodeCollection of documents according to the specified document types. The second parameter must contain a list of allowed document type code names, separated by semicolons. |
InList |
bool |
|
Returns a true value if the object exists within the specified collection. |
All |
bool |
|
Returns a true value if all of the objects in the collection match the given condition. Specify the condition as a macro expression. |
Any |
bool |
|
Returns a true value if at least one object in the collection matches the given condition. Specify the condition as a macro expression. Throws an exception if the collection is null. |
Exists |
bool |
|
Returns a true value if at least one object in the collection matches the given condition. Specify the condition as a macro expression. Returns false if the collection is null. |
RandomSelection |
IList |
|
Returns randomly selected objects from the collection. You can optionally specify the number of items. |
SelectInterval |
IList |
|
Returns the specified interval of objects from the collection. |
Cache |
object |
|
Evaluates the specified macro expressions and stores the result in the server-side application cache. The system only evaluates the expression if the result is not found in the cache. See also: Caching the results of macros |
GetCacheDependency |
CMSCacheDependency |
|
Returns a CMSCacheDependency object based on the specified dummy cache keys (one or more string parameters). See also: |
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Data conversion
Method |
Return type |
Parameters |
Description |
ToString |
string |
|
Converts an object to a string. Returns the optional default value if the conversion is not possible. You can also specify the culture context and a formatting string used for the conversion. |
ToInt |
int |
|
Converts an object to an integer number. Returns the optional default value if the conversion is not possible. |
ToBool |
bool |
|
Converts an object to a boolean value. Returns the optional default value if the conversion is not possible. |
ToDouble |
double |
|
Converts an object to a double number. Returns the optional default value if the conversion is not possible. You can also specify a culture code to determine the formatting of the decimal number. |
ToGuid |
guid |
|
Converts an object to a GUID value. Returns the optional default value if the conversion is not possible. |
ToDateTime |
DateTime |
|
Converts an object to a DateTime value. Returns the optional default value if the conversion is not possible. You can also specify a culture code to determine the date format. |
FromOADate |
DateTime |
|
Converts a double representation of a date and time value (OLE Automation Date) to a DateTime object. |
ToTimeSpan |
TimeSpan |
|
Converts an object to a TimeSpan value. Returns null if the conversion is not possible. |
ToBaseInfo |
BaseInfo |
|
Converts an object to a BaseInfo — the general type for Kentico system objects and documents. Returns the optional default value if the conversion is not possible. |
List |
ArrayList |
|
Converts a list of objects to an ArrayList. |
> Back to the list of macro method categories
Text manipulation
Method |
Return type |
Parameters |
Description |
Contains |
bool |
|
Returns a true value if the string specified by the second parameter occurs within the first string. |
EndsWith |
bool |
|
Indicates whether the string specified by the second parameter occurs at the end of the first string. |
Format |
string |
|
Replaces all formatting expressions in a string using the text equivalents specified in the second parameter. Based on composite formatting. |
FormatNotEmpty |
string |
|
If the first parameter is not empty or null, replaces all formatting expressions in the string using the text equivalents specified in the second parameter. Returns the optional third parameter if the value is null or empty. Based on composite formatting. |
GetMatch |
string |
|
Matches the string value to the specified regular expression and returns the match. |
IndexOf |
int |
|
Returns the index of the first occurrence of the second string within the first string. |
LastIndexOf |
int |
|
Returns the index of the last occurrence of the second string within the first string. |
LimitLength |
string |
|
Limits the length of the string to the specified number of characters. The padString parameter allows you to set a string that the method appends to the end of the limited result. The length of the parameter is included in the maximum length. If you set the wholeWords parameter to true, the method preserves the last word in the string. |
LoremIpsum |
string |
|
Generates lorem Ipsum text (1000 characters by default).To change the number of generated characters, call the method with a string parameter containing a number. For example: LoremIpsum(“100”) |
Matches |
bool |
|
Indicates whether the string matches the specified regular expression. |
NotContains |
bool |
|
Returns a true value if the string specified by the second parameter does NOT occur within the first string. |
PadLeft |
string |
|
Adds leading characters to the string until the total length matches the second parameter. By default, the method uses spaces as the padding character, but you can optionally specify a different character. |
PadRight |
string |
|
Adds trailing characters to the string until the total length matches the second parameter. By default, the method uses spaces as the padding character, but you can optionally specify a different character. |
RegexReplace |
string |
|
Replaces strings that match the regular expression pattern within the first string using the replacement string. |
Remove |
string |
|
Deletes characters from the string, starting at the specified index. By default, the method removes all remaining characters from the specified position. You can optionally specify the number of characters to be removed. |
Replace |
string |
|
Replaces all occurrences of the second string within the first string using the replacement string. |
Split |
string[] |
|
Separates the string into an array of substrings according to the specified delimiting characters. If the optional third parameter is true, the method removes empty substrings from the result. |
StartsWith |
bool |
|
Indicates whether the string specified by the second parameter occurs at the start of the first string. |
Substring |
string |
|
Returns a substring starting at the specified index. By default, the method returns all remaining characters from the specified index. You can optionally specify the number of characters to be returned. |
ToLower |
string |
|
Converts the entire string to lower case. |
ToUpper |
string |
|
Converts the entire string to upper case. |
Trim |
string |
|
Removes all leading and trailing occurrences of characters from the string. By default, the method trims white space characters, but you can optionally specify a different set of characters (as a string). |
TrimEnd |
string |
|
Removes all trailing occurrences of characters from the string. By default, the method trims white space characters, but you can optionally specify a different set of characters (as a string). |
TrimStart |
string |
|
Removes all leading occurrences of characters from the string. By default, the method trims white space characters, but you can optionally specify a different set of characters (as a string). |
Tips: To perform lexicographical comparison of strings, use the basic comparison operators (==, <, >, <=, >=). Add macro parameters to specify case sensitivity and the culture context of text operations.
> Back to the list of macro method categories
Advanced text processing
Method |
Return type |
Parameters |
Description |
GetResourceString |
string |
|
Translates the specified resource (localization) string. By default, the target language of the localization depends on the current culture. You can specify the target language using the optional parameter. |
JSEscape |
string |
|
Escapes the string for safe usage in JavaScript (to avoid XSS vulnerabilities). |
Localize |
string |
|
Resolves localization expressions within the specified text. By default, the target language of the localization depends on the current culture. You can specify the target language using the optional parameter. |
MapPath |
string |
|
Returns the physical file path that matches the specified virtual path. |
ResolveBBCode |
string |
|
Resolves BBCode tags in the specified text, for example: {% ResolveBBCode(“[quote]Sample text[/quote]”) %}. |
ResolveMacroExpressions |
string |
|
Resolves the specified macro expression (without the {% %} parentheses). |
ResolveMacros |
string |
|
Resolves all macros within the specified text. |
ResolveUrl |
string |
|
Converts relative URLs starting with ~/ to relative URLs containing the current application path (so they can be resolved by clients). Absolute URLs remain unchanged. |
StripTags |
string |
|
Removes all HTML tags from the specified text. |
SQLEscape |
string |
|
Escapes the string for safe usage in SQL commands (to avoid SQL injection). |
UnresolveUrl |
string |
|
Converts relative URLs containing the application path to relative URLs starting with ~/. Absolute URLs remain unchanged. |
UrlEncode |
string |
|
Applies URL encoding to the specified string. |
> Back to the list of macro method categories
Date and time modification
Method |
Return type |
Parameters |
Description |
AddMilliseconds |
DateTime |
|
Adds the specified number of milliseconds to a DateTime value. |
AddSeconds |
DateTime |
|
Adds the specified number of seconds to a DateTime value. |
AddMinutes |
DateTime |
|
Adds the specified number of minutes to a DateTime value. |
AddHours |
DateTime |
|
Adds the specified number of hours to a DateTime value. |
AddDays |
DateTime |
|
Adds the specified number of days to a DateTime value. |
AddWeeks |
DateTime |
|
Adds the specified number of weeks to a DateTime value. |
AddMonths |
DateTime |
|
Adds the specified number of months to a DateTime value. |
AddYears |
DateTime |
|
Adds the specified number of years to a DateTime value. |
ToShortDateString |
string |
|
Converts the value of the DateTime parameter to an equivalent short date string representation. |
ToShortTimeString |
string |
|
Converts the value of the DateTime parameter to an equivalent short time string representation. |
> Back to the list of macro method categories
Mathematical operations
The macro autocomplete help only shows the mathematical methods as members of the Math namespace, for example {% Math.Abs(-2) %}. However, the system resolves the methods even without the namespace.
Method |
Return type |
Parameters |
Description |
Abs |
double |
|
The absolute value of the specified number. |
Acos |
double |
|
The angle whose cosine is the specified number. |
Asin |
double |
|
The angle whose sine is the specified number. |
Atan |
double |
|
The angle whose tangent is the specified number. |
Average |
double |
|
The average of all numbers in the specified data column of the objects in the collection. |
Ceiling |
double |
|
The smallest whole number greater than or equal to the specified number. |
Cos |
double |
|
The cosine of the specified angle. |
Cosh |
double |
|
The hyperbolic cosine of the specified angle. |
Exp |
double |
|
e raised to the specified power. |
Floor |
double |
|
The largest whole number lesser than or equal to the specified number. |
GetRandomInt |
int |
|
Generates a random positive integer. You can use the optional parameters to specify the range of possible numbers, and the seed number for the generator. |
GetRandomDouble |
double |
|
Generates a random positive decimal number. You can use the optional parameters to specify the range of possible numbers, and the seed number for the generator. |
IsOdd |
bool |
|
Returns a true value if the specified number is odd. |
IsEven |
bool |
|
Returns a true value if the specified number is even. |
Log |
double |
|
The base e logarithm of a specified number. |
Log10 |
double |
|
The base 10 logarithm of a specified number. |
Max |
double |
|
The maximum from the given list of numbers. |
Maximum |
double |
|
The maximum of all numbers in the specified data column of the objects in the collection. |
Min |
double |
|
The minimum from the given list of numbers. |
Minimum |
|
The minimum of all numbers in the specified data column of the objects in the collection. |
|
Modulo |
int |
|
The modulo of two integer numbers. |
Pow |
double |
|
The number raised to the specified power. |
Percent |
double |
|
Multiples the specified number by 0.01. |
Round |
double |
|
The number nearest to the specified value. The optional second parameter sets the number of fractional digits in the rounded value. You can use the third parameter to set the rounding mode for numbers half-way between two other numbers. Supported variants are:
|
Sign |
double |
|
Returns a value indicating the sign of a number:
|
Sin |
double |
|
The sine of the specified angle. |
Sinh |
double |
|
The hyperbolic sine of the specified angle. |
Sqrt |
double |
|
The square root of a specified number. |
Sum |
double |
|
The sum of all numbers in the specified data column of the objects in the collection. |
Tan |
double |
|
The tangent of the specified angle. |
Tanh |
double |
|
The hyperbolic tangent of the specified angle. |
> Back to the list of macro method categories
User membership and permissions
Method |
Return type |
Parameters |
Description |
CheckPrivilegeLevel |
bool |
|
Checks the user’s privilege level. Returns a true value if the user’s privilege level matches the required UserPrivilegeLevelEnum value or is higher. You can check the following levels:
|
GetFormattedUserName |
string |
|
Returns the formatted username of the specified user object. The default format is <full name> (<nickname>) if the user has a nickname, otherwise <full name> (<username>). The isLiveSite parameter determines whether the macro displays the username on the live website. |
HasAnyMembership |
bool |
|
Checks whether the user belongs to any membership in the system. |
HasMembership |
bool |
|
Checks if a user belongs to the specified memberships. Enter the code names of memberships through the userMemberships parameter. When checking multiple memberships, use semicolons (;) to separate the code names. If the allMemberships parameter is true, the user must belong to all specified memberships for the check to succeed. To check whether the user belongs to a membership on a global level, add the period character (.) prefix before the membership code name. |
IsAuthorizedPerResource |
bool |
|
Evaluates whether a user has a specific permission for a resource (module). Use code names to identify the resource and permission. |
IsAuthorizedPerUIElement |
bool |
|
Evaluates whether a user is allowed to access a specific UI element of a resource (module). Use code names to identify the resource and element. |
IsInGroup |
bool |
|
Checks if a user belongs to a group (community or workgroup). |
IsInRole |
bool |
|
Checks if a user belongs to the specified roles. Enter the code names of roles through the userRole parameter. When checking multiple roles, use semicolons (;) to separate the code names. If the allRoles parameter is true, the user must belong to all specified roles for the check to succeed. To check whether the user belongs to a role on a global level, add the period character (.) prefix before the role code name. |
> Back to the list of macro method categories
Transformations
Method |
Return type |
Parameters |
Description |
ApplyTransformation |
string |
|
Applies Text / XML transformations to a collection of items. |
Transform |
string |
|
Applies ad-hoc transformation code (Text / XML type) to a collection of items. |
When writing Text / XML transformations, you can use most ASCX transformation methods inside macro expressions.
Outside of transformations, the macro autocomplete only offers the methods under the Transformation namespace, for example Transformation.GetDocumentUrl(). However, you can manually enter the methods even without the namespace.