Oleg Sych

Nested Template Class is one of T4 template design techniques that can be used to develop reusable templates. The main template is defined as a nested TextTransformation class inside of a class feature block.

Standalone Template is one of T4 template design techniques that can be used to develop reusable templates. The using template uses T4 engine to compile the main template into a separate assembly and run the compiled code independently of the using template.

Template Method is one of T4 template design techniques that can be used to develop reusable templates. It encapsulates the main template as a method in a class feature block. Template parameters are defined as parameters of the method. The calling template uses an include directive to merge code of the template method with the code of the calling template and calls the method from a statement block.

Merged Template Class is one of T4 template design techniques that can be used to develop reusable templates. It uses class feature blocks to define parameters as fields or properties in the main template. The calling template uses an include directive to merge code of main template with the code of the calling template and assigns parameter values in a statement block.

This article discusses design challenges developers face as complexity of their T4 templates increases; defines qualities of a reusable T4 templates; discusses techniques that can be used to achieve these qualities and compares their pros and cons.

This article describes the purpose and implementation mechanics of the T4 <#@ property #> directive.