Tables Use Templates

[Context: HL Kit … Basic Concepts and Terminology … Manipulation of Visual Elements … Working With Tables]

Tables make extensive use of templates. All of the objects shown within a table are viewed through a template. If the table is dynamic and allows items to be added, a separate template is used for displaying the items available for selection. If a table has a header or footer, then a template is used to display that information.

In fact, everything displayed as part of a table is accomplished using a template. The reason for this is simple. Using templates makes tables highly modular, allowing authors to readily customize the contents and re-use common templates for similar purposes.

Every item shown within a table is either a thing or a pick. Every item that can be selected for addition to a table is a thing or a pick. Templates are an ideal vehicle for display within tables, since templates are always associated with a specific thing or pick. When used for showing a list of items, the same template is simply associated separately with each item in the list to properly render the contents of each item.