The TemplateDef property has been added to allow programming languages such as dBASE Plus to set control's properties with multiple parameters. It is known that programming languages such as dBASE Plus or XBasic from AlphaFive, does not support setting a property with multiple parameters. In other words, these programming languages does not support something like Property(Parameters) = Value, so our controls provide an alternative using the TemplateDef method. The first call of the TemplateDef should be a declaration such as "Dim a,b" which means the next 2 calls of the TemplateDef defines the variables a and b. The next call should be Template or ExecuteTemplate property which can use the variable a and b being defined previously. 

So, calling the TemplateDef property should be as follows:

with (Control)
	TemplateDef = [Dim var_Column]
	TemplateDef = var_Column
	Template = [var_Column.Def(4) = 255]
endwith

This sample allocates a variable var_Column, assigns the value to the variable ( the second call of the TemplateDef ), and the Template call uses the var_Column variable ( as an object ), to call its Def property with the parameter 4. 

Let's say we need to define the background color for a specified column, so we need to call the Def(exCellBackColor) property of the column, to define the color for all cells in the column. 

The following VB6 sample shows setting the Def property such as:

With Control
	.Columns.Add("Column 1").Def(exCellBackColor) = 255
	.Columns.Add "Column 2"
	.Items.AddItem 0
	.Items.AddItem 1
	.Items.AddItem 2
End With

In dBASE Plus, calling the Def(4) has no effect, instead using the TemplateDef helps you to use properly the Def property as follows:

local Control,var_Column

Control = form.Activex1.nativeObject
// Control.Columns.Add("Column 1").Def(4) = 255
var_Column = Control.Columns.Add("Column 1")
with (Control)
	TemplateDef = [Dim var_Column]
	TemplateDef = var_Column
	Template = [var_Column.Def(4) = 255]
endwith
Control.Columns.Add("Column 2")
Control.Items.AddItem(0)
Control.Items.AddItem(1)
Control.Items.AddItem(2)

The equivalent sample for XBasic in A5, is as follows:

Dim Control as P
Dim var_Column as P

Control = topparent:CONTROL_ACTIVEX1.activex
' Control.Columns.Add("Column 1").Def(4) = 255
var_Column = Control.Columns.Add("Column 1")
Control.TemplateDef = "Dim var_Column"
Control.TemplateDef = var_Column
Control.Template = "var_Column.Def(4) = 255"

Control.Columns.Add("Column 2")
Control.Items.AddItem(0)
Control.Items.AddItem(1)
Control.Items.AddItem(2)

The samples just call the Column.Def(4) = Value, using the TemplateDef. The first call of TemplateDef property is "Dim var_Column", which indicates that the next call of the TemplateDef will defines the value of the variable var_Column, in other words, it defines the object var_Column. The last call of the Template property uses the var_Column member to use the x-script and so to set the Def property so a new color is being assigned to the column.

The TemplateDef, Template and ExecuteTemplate support x-script language ( Template script of the Exontrols ), like explained bellow:

The Template or x-script is composed by lines of instructions. Instructions are separated by "\n\r" ( newline characters ) or ";" character. The ; character may be available only for newer versions of the components.

An x-script instruction/line can be one of the following:

• Dim list of variables Declares the variables. Multiple variables are separated by commas. ( Sample: Dim h, h1, h2 )
• variable = property( list of arguments ) Assigns the result of the property to a variable. The "variable" is the name of a declared variable. The "property" is the property name of the object in the context. The "list or arguments" may include variables or values separated by commas.  ( Sample: h = InsertItem(0,"New Child") )
• property( list of arguments ) = value Changes the property. The value can be a variable, a string, a number, a boolean value or a RGB value.
• method( list of arguments ) Invokes the method. The "list or arguments" may include variables or values separated by commas.
• { Beginning the object's context. The properties or methods called between { and } are related to the last object returned by the property prior to { declaration.
• } Ending the object's context
• object. property( list of arguments ).property( list of arguments ).... The .(dot) character splits the object from its property. For instance, the Columns.Add("Column1").HeaderBackColor = RGB(255,0,0), adds a new column and changes the column's header back color.

The x-script may uses constant expressions as follow:

• boolean expression with possible values as True or False
• numeric expression may starts with 0x which indicates a hexa decimal representation, else it should starts with digit, or +/- followed by a digit, and . is the decimal separator. Sample: 13 indicates the integer 13, or 12.45 indicates the double expression 12,45  
• date expression is delimited by # character in the format #mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss#. Sample: #31/12/1971# indicates the December 31, 1971
• string expression is delimited by " or ` characters. If using the ` character, please make sure that it is different than ' which allows adding comments inline. Sample: "text" indicates the string text.

Also , the template or x-script code may support general functions as follows:

• Me property indicates the original object.
• RGB(R,G,B) property retrieves an RGB value, where the R, G, B are byte values that indicates the R G B values for the color being specified. For instance, the following code changes the control's background color to red: BackColor = RGB(255,0,0)
• LoadPicture(file) property loads a picture from a file or from BASE64 encoded strings, and returns a Picture object required by the picture properties.
• CreateObject(progID) property creates and retrieves a single uninitialized object of the class associated with a specified program identifier.