Reuse a Template Chunk — epoxy

Reuse a template from another chunk or file. By calling epoxy_use_chunk() in an R chunk or inline R expression, you can reuse a template defined in another chunk in your document.

Alternatively, you can store the template in a separate file and use epoxy_use_file() to reuse it. When stored in a file, the template file can contain YAML front matter (following the same rules as pandoc documents) with options that should be applied when calling an epoxy function. The specific function called by epoxy_use_file() can be set via the engine option in the YAML front matter; the default is epoxy().

Usage

epoxy_use_chunk(.data = NULL, label, ...)

epoxy_use_file(.data = NULL, file, ...)

Arguments

.data

A data set

label

The chunk label, i.e. the human-readable name, of the chunk containing the template string. This chunk should be an epoxy, epoxy_html or other epoxy-provided chunk type and it must have a label. epoxy_use_chunk() will apply the options from this chunk to the template, giving preference to arguments in epoxy_use_chunk() or the chunk options where it is called. See the "Template Options" section for more details.

...

Arguments passed on to epoxy

.transformer

A transformer function or transformer chain created with epoxy_transform(). Alternatively, a character vector of epoxy transformer names, e.g. c("bold", "collapse") or a list of epoxy transformers, e.g. list(epoxy_transform_bold(), epoxy_transform_collapse()).

In epoxy, you'll most likely want to use the defaults or consult epoxy_transform() for more information. See also glue::glue() for more information on transformers.

.style

Please use .transformer instead.

.open

[character(1): ‘\{’]
The opening delimiter around the template variable or expression. Doubling the full delimiter escapes it.

.close

[character(1): ‘\}’]
The closing delimiter around the template variable or expression. Doubling the full delimiter escapes it.

.collapse

A character string used to collapse a vector result into a single value. If NULL (the default), the result is not collapsed.

.sep

[character(1): ‘""’]
Separator used to separate elements.

.envir

[environment: parent.frame()]
Environment to evaluate each expression in. Expressions are evaluated from left to right. If .x is an environment, the expressions are evaluated in that environment and .envir is ignored. If NULL is passed, it is equivalent to emptyenv().

.na

[character(1): ‘NA’]
Value to replace NA values with. If NULL missing values are propagated, that is an NA result will cause NA output. Otherwise the value is replaced by the value of .na.

.null

[character(1): ‘character()’]
Value to replace NULL values with. If character() whole output is character(). If NULL all NULL values are dropped (as in paste0()). Otherwise the value is replaced by the value of .null.

.comment

[character(1): ‘#’]
Value to use as the comment character.

.literal

[boolean(1): ‘FALSE’]
Whether to treat single or double quotes, backticks, and comments as regular characters (vs. as syntactic elements), when parsing the expression string. Setting .literal = TRUE probably only makes sense in combination with a custom .transformer, as is the case with glue_col(). Regard this argument (especially, its name) as experimental.

.trim

[logical(1): ‘TRUE’]
Whether to trim the input template with trim() or not.

file

The template file, i.e. a plain text file, containing the template. An .md or .txt file extension is recommended. In addition to the template, the file may also contain YAML front matter containing options that are used when rendering the template via epoxy().

Value

A character string of the rendered template based on the label

chunk. The results are marked as "asis" output so that they are treated as regular text rather than being displayed as code results.

Use in R Markdown or Quarto

```{epoxy movie-release}
{.emph title} was released in {year}.
```

```{r}
# Re-using the template we defined above
epoxy_use_chunk(bechdel[1, ], "movie-release")
```

```{r}
# Using in a dplyr pipeline
bechdel |>
  dplyr::filter(year == 1989) |>
  epoxy_use_chunk("movie-release")
```

Or you can even use it inline:

It's hard to believe that
`r epoxy_use_chunk(bechdel[2, ], "movie-release")`.

It's hard to believe that Back to the Future Part II was released in 1989.

The same template could also be stored in a file, e.g. movie-release.md:

---
engine: epoxy
---

{.emph title} was released in {year}.

The YAML front matter is used in template files to set options for the template. You can use the engine option to choose the epoxy function to be applied to the template, e.g. engine: epoxy_html or engine: epoxy_latex. By default, engine: epoxy is assumed unless otherwise specified.

Template Options

When rendering a template, epoxy_use_chunk() and epoxy_use_file() will inherit the options set in a number of different ways. The final template options are determined in the following order, ranked by importance. Options set in a higher-ranked location will override options set in a lower-ranked location.

The arguments passed to epoxy_use_chunk(), such as .data or any arguments passed in the .... These options always have preference over options set anywhere else.
The chunk options from the chunk where epoxy_use_chunk() or epoxy_use_file() is called.
The chunk options from the template chunk or file. These options typically are relevant to the template itself, such as the engine used or the opening and closing delimiters.
Global knitr chunk options for the document. You can set these with knitr::opts_chunk$set(), see ?knitr::opts_chunk for more information.