Templates

What is a template?

A template is an advanced formula used in a Rules Engine action to compute the value of a target field.

Instead of simply copying a value from another field or setting a static default value, a template lets you:

Combine several fields together
Clean or normalize text (uppercase, lowercase, trim, replace, etc.)
Perform mathematical operations

Templates use the Twig template engine syntax, extended with Product-Live specific functions. These custom functions are only available inside Product-Live — they will not work in external Twig tools.

When should I use a template?

If a simple "copy from another field" or "set a default value" is enough, prefer these actions. Use templates when you need logic or transformation.

Concatenate fields : build a product label from brand + title.
Normalize text : ensure a title is always uppercase or trimmed.
Compute a number : convert mm to cm, compute a discount, add two measures.

Twig syntax basics

Twig uses two kinds of delimiters:

{{ ... }} : outputs the result of an expression (the value written into the target field)
{% ... %} : control logic (conditions, loops, variable assignments, etc.)

Display a field valueSimple condition

twig

{{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data }}

twig

{% if targetItem.fields.BRAND.value.data == 'ACME' %}
  {{ 'ACME PRODUCT' }}
{% else %}
  {{ targetItem.fields.BRAND.value.data }} - {{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data }}
{% endif %}

Field values are accessed via the item structure — see Reference item and Product-Live functions.

For more details about the Twig syntax, see the Twig documentation.

Useful Twig filters

Filter	Description
`lower`	Converts a string to lowercase
`upper`	Converts a string to uppercase
`trim`	Trims whitespace from the beginning and end of a string
`replace`	Replaces substrings inside a string
`date`	Formats a date to a given format
`merge`	Merges two arrays
`filter`	Filters an array using a condition

For the full list of available filters, see the Twig documentation.

TIP

Always use default('') before applying a filter to avoid errors on null values:

twig

{{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data | default('') | trim | upper }}

Without default(''), if the TITLE field is empty or missing, Twig receives null and trim throws an error. With default(''), it receives an empty string and continues safely.

Product‑Live functions

Product-Live extends Twig with custom functions and variables. Their availability depends on the template engine used.

Function / Variable	Description	Engine
`targetItem`	The current item being processed	`twig.2`
`sourceItem`	The source item	`twig.2`
`base64_encode()`	Encode a string into a Base64 value	`twig.1`, `twig.2`
`base64_decode()`	Decode a Base64 string into a readable string	`twig.1`, `twig.2`
`source()`	Access the value of a property on a source item	`twig.1`
`target()`	Access the value of a property on the current item	`twig.1`

TIP

We recommend using twig.2 for new templates. Use targetItem.fields.FIELD_KEY.value.data and sourceItem.fields.FIELD_KEY.value.data to access field values directly. See Reference item for the full item structure.

Use twig.1 only for existing templates that cannot be migrated yet.

`targetItem` and `sourceItem`

targetItem and sourceItem give access to the full structure of an item.

In a mapping context: sourceItem is the source item, targetItem is the item being updated.
In a formula context: both point to the same item : the one being updated.

Access a field valueDebug — full item as JSON

twig

{{ targetItem.fields.FIELD_KEY.value.data }}
{{ sourceItem.fields.FIELD_KEY.value.data }}

twig

{{ targetItem | json_encode | raw }}

For the full item structure, see Reference item.

`base64_encode()` and `base64_decode()`

These functions are useful when you need to build URLs or encoded filters.

EncodeDecode

twig

{{ base64_encode("[{\"fieldKey\":\"EAN\",\"operator\":\"contains\",\"criteria\":{\"string\":\"2000099919335\"}}]") }}

twig

{{ base64_decode("e1wiZmllbGRLZXlcIjpcIkVBTlwiLFwib3BlcmF0b3JcIjpcImNvbnRhaW5zXCIsXCJjcml0ZXJpYVwiOntcInN0cmluZ1wiOlwiMjAwMDA5OTkxOTMzNVwifX0=") }}

`source()` and `target()`

WARNING

These functions are only available in twig.1. We recommend using sourceItem and targetItem in twig.2 instead.

source() reads a field value from the source item. target() reads a field value from the target item being updated.

source()target()

twig

{# Read a simple field value #}
{{ source('TITLE') }}

{# Read the key of an option or classification #}
{{ source('COLOR', 'key') }}

{# Read the title of an option or classification #}
{{ source('COLOR', 'title') }}

{# Read the localized title of an option or classification #}
{{ source('COLOR', 'title-local', 'fr') }}

twig

{# Read a simple field value #}
{{ target('TITLE') }}

{# Read the key of an option or classification #}
{{ target('COLOR', 'key') }}

{# Read the title of an option or classification #}
{{ target('COLOR', 'title') }}

{# Read the localized title of an option or classification #}
{{ target('COLOR', 'title-local', 'en') }}

INFO

In a mapping context, if an item has multiple source items, source() returns the value from the most recently updated one.

Reference Item

The following JSON represents a typical item as seen by the template engine. The examples in this page use fields from this item.

json

{
    "fields": {
        "EAN": {
          "key": "EAN",
          "type": "IDENTIFIER",
          "value": {
            "data": "8710103533825"
          }
        },
        "TITLE": {
          "key": "TITLE",
          "type": "SINGLE-LINE-TEXT",
          "value": {
            "data": "Top Robot Mower"
          }
        },
        "DESCRIPTION": {
          "key": "DESCRIPTION",
          "type": "LONG-TEXT",
          "value": {
            "data": "The ideal model for discovering the world of lawnmowers. Lightweight and agile, with its 146cc engine, this mower will be your ideal partner for lawn care."
          }
        },
        "WEB_DESCRIPTION": {
          "key": "WEB_DESCRIPTION",
          "type": "LONG-TEXT",
          "value": {
            "data": "The ideal model for discovering the world of lawnmowers. <b>Lightweight</b> and <b>agile</b>, with its 146cc engine, this mower will be your ideal partner for lawn care."
          }
        },
        "BRAND": {
          "key": "BRAND",
          "type": "SINGLE-SELECT",
          "value": {
            "data": "SUPPLIER-X"
          }
        },
        "ADDED_VALUE": {
          "key": "ADDED_VALUE",
          "type": "MULTIPLE-SELECT",
          "value": {
            "data": [
              "SIMPLE",
              "EFFICIENT"
            ]
          }
        },
        "BATTERY": {
          "key": "BATTERY",
          "type": "MULTIPLE-SELECT-QUANTIFIED",
          "value": {
            "data": [
              {
                "key": "AA",
                "quantity": 2
              },
              {
                "key": "AAA",
                "quantity": 4
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "CONNECTOR": {
          "key": "CONNECTOR",
          "type": "MULTIPLE-SELECT-QUANTIFIED-WITH-COMMENT",
          "value": {
            "data": [
              {
                "key": "USB",
                "quantity": 2,
                "comment": "3.2"
              },
              {
                "key": "USB",
                "quantity": 1,
                "comment": "C"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "INSTRUCTIONS": {
          "key": "INSTRUCTIONS",
          "type": "ATTACHMENT",
          "value": {
            "data": {
              "hash": "4214f8cd460bdbec6a936c6088d0a73140c89c9dd042e123f0cbd3e94c6144ff",
              "filename": "manual.pdf"
            }
          }
        },
        "FRONT": {
          "key": "FRONT",
          "type": "IMAGE",
          "value": {
            "data": {
              "hash": "4214f8cd460bdbec6a936c6088d0a73140c89c9dd042e123f0cbd3e94c6144ff",
              "filename": "front-image.jpg"
            }
          }
        },
        "PRICE": {
          "key": "PRICE",
          "type": "NUMBER",
          "value": {
            "data": 329.99
          }
        },
        "DELIVERY_DATE": {
            "key": "DELIVERY_DATE",
            "type": "DATE",
            "value": {
                "data": "2026-02-20"
            }
        },
        "MARKETING_DATE": {
            "key": "MARKETING_DATE",
            "type": "DATE-TIME",
            "value": {
                "data": "2026-02-20T11:00:58.000Z"
            }
        },
        "TITLE": {
            "key": "TITLE",
            "type": "COMPOSITE",
            "data": [
                {
                    "position": 0,
                    "id": "01KHXA9V416XTX030VAFKHMXYY",
                    "data": {
                        "LOCAL_LANGUAGE": {
                          "key": "LOCAL_LANGUAGE",
                          "type": "SINGLE-SELECT",
                          "value": {
                            "data": "FRA"
                          }
                        },
                        "LOCAL_TITLE": {
                          "key": "LOCAL_TITLE",
                          "type": "SINGLE-SELECT",
                          "value": {
                            "data": "Robot Tondeuse Top Surface de travail maximale de 3000 m² ou plus"
                          }
                        },
                    }
                },
                {
                    "position": 1,
                    "id": "01KHXA9WXNMQXFESH90A23NPVC",
                    "data": {
                        "LOCAL_LANGUAGE": {
                          "key": "LOCAL_LANGUAGE",
                          "type": "SINGLE-SELECT",
                          "value": {
                            "data": "ENG"
                          }
                        },
                        "LOCAL_TITLE": {
                          "key": "LOCAL_TITLE",
                          "type": "SINGLE-SELECT",
                          "value": {
                            "data": "Top Robot Mower Maximum working area of 3000 m² or more"
                          }
                        },
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
    },
    "parent": null,
    "parentId": null,
    "children": null,
    "object": "item",
    "id": "186383",
    "createdAt": "2026-01-29T09:28:53.000Z",
    "updatedAt": "2026-02-03T16:32:52.000Z",
    "itemMetadata": {
        "createdAt": "2026-01-29T09:28:53.000Z",
        "updatedAt": "2026-02-03T16:32:52.000Z",
        "tableId": "319",
        "tableKey": "PRODUCTS_MONO_COMPOSITE",
        "tableOwnerAccountId": "4",
        "levelId": "336",
        "levelKey": "PRODUCT",
        "partitionId": "537"
    }
}

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Twig examples

Concatenate fieldsUppercase and trim a titleCompute a price with VAT

twig

{{ targetItem.fields.BRAND.value.data }} - {{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data }}

twig

{{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data | default('') | trim | upper }}

twig

{{ targetItem.fields.PRICE.value.data * 1.20 }}

Testing your templates

You can use twig.stapps.io to test your Twig syntax outside of Product-Live.

Paste the JSON input you want to use (for example a simplified sourceItem + targetItem)
Paste your Twig template
Click Render to see the result

WARNING

Product-Live specific functions and variables (targetItem, sourceItem, base64_encode(), base64_decode()) are not available on this tool. Use it only to test standard Twig syntax.

XML configuration

When you configure a template via Data Factory, the Twig expression is wrapped in a <Template> node inside a SET_TEXT or SET_NUMBER action. To deploy templates to your tables, use the table-import-schema task.

The Twig expression must be wrapped in <![CDATA[ ... ]]> to prevent the XML parser from interpreting special characters (such as <, >, &) as XML markup.

Attributes

Attribute	Values	Default	Description
`engine`	`twig.1` / `twig.2`	`twig.1`	Selects the template engine used to execute the expression.
`trim-spaces`	`true` / `false`	`false`	If `true`, leading and trailing spaces are removed from the output before it is written into the target field. Recommended for identifiers and single-line text fields.
`precision`	integer	`2`	Number of decimal places to keep in the final result. Only applicable to `SET_NUMBER` actions.
`round`	`UP`, `DOWN`, `CEILING`, `FLOOR`, `HALF_UP`, `HALF_DOWN`	`HALF_UP`	Rounding mode to apply. See Rounding methods. Only applicable to `SET_NUMBER` actions.

WARNING

The default engine is twig.1. We recommend explicitly setting engine="twig.2" for new templates. See Template engines for details.

enginetrim-spacesprecision + round

xml

<Action type="SET_TEXT">
  <Template engine="twig.2">
    <![CDATA[{{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data | default('') | upper }}]]>
  </Template>
</Action>

xml

<Action type="SET_TEXT">
  <Template trim-spaces="true" engine="twig.2">
    <![CDATA[{{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data | default('') | upper }}]]>
  </Template>
</Action>

xml

<Action type="SET_NUMBER">
  <Template precision="2" round="HALF_UP" engine="twig.2">
    <![CDATA[{{ targetItem.fields.PRICE.value.data * 1.20 }}]]>
  </Template>
</Action>

Template engines

Engines are configured per rule, it is possible to mix twig.1 and twig.2 on the same table.

`twig.1` (default, legacy)

Supports standard Twig syntax and filters.
Adds Product-Live specific functions: source(), target(), base64_encode(), base64_decode().
Use only for existing templates that cannot be migrated yet.

xml

<Action type="SET_TEXT">
  <Template engine="twig.1">
    <![CDATA[{{ source("TITLE") | default('') | upper }}]]>
  </Template>
</Action>

`twig.2` (recommended)

Supports standard Twig syntax and filters.
Adds Product-Live specific variables and functions: targetItem, sourceItem, base64_encode(), base64_decode().
Lighter and faster to execute — recommended for new templates and tables with a large number of rules.

xml

<Action type="SET_TEXT">
  <Template engine="twig.2">
    <![CDATA[{{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data | default('') | upper }}]]>
  </Template>
</Action>

Examples

Concatenate fieldsNormalize textCompute a price with VAT

xml

<Field key="TITLE" source-table="products">
  <Rule priority="1">
    <Action type="SET_TEXT">
      <Template trim-spaces="true" engine="twig.2">
        <![CDATA[
          {{ targetItem.fields.BRAND.value.data }} - {{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data }}
        ]]>
      </Template>
    </Action>
  </Rule>
</Field>

xml

<Field key="TITLE" source-table="products">
  <Rule priority="1">
    <Action type="SET_TEXT">
      <Template trim-spaces="true" engine="twig.2">
        <![CDATA[
          {{ targetItem.fields.TITLE.value.data | default('') | trim | upper }}
        ]]>
      </Template>
    </Action>
  </Rule>
</Field>

xml

<Field key="PRICE_VAT" source-table="products">
  <Rule priority="1">
    <Action type="SET_NUMBER">
      <Template precision="2" round="HALF_UP" engine="twig.2">
        <![CDATA[
          {{ targetItem.fields.PRICE.value.data * 1.20 }}
        ]]>
      </Template>
    </Action>
  </Rule>
</Field>

Limits

The output of a template is limited to 1 000 characters. If the output exceeds this limit, the value is not written and an error is raised.
A template can read from a maximum of 20 source fields. If more fields are referenced, the template will not execute and an error is raised. If you need more, consider using intermediate fields to split the computation.
Template execution has a timeout. If the expression takes too long to evaluate, the execution is stopped and an error is raised.
If a template is invalid or produces an error, the value is not updated (the task continues for other items).

TIP

For best performance and reliability:

Keep templates as simple as possible.
Avoid heavy loops on large sets of children when you can express the same logic with several simpler rules.

Rules engine

Automation

Mapping

Third-Party Integrations

Cloud Storage

Notifications

Templates

What is a template?

When should I use a template?

Twig syntax basics

Useful Twig filters

Product‑Live functions

`targetItem` and `sourceItem`

`base64_encode()` and `base64_decode()`

`source()` and `target()`

Reference Item

Twig examples

Testing your templates

XML configuration

Attributes

Template engines

`twig.1` (default, legacy)

`twig.2` (recommended)

Examples

Limits

Automation

Mapping

Cloud Storage

Notifications

Templates ​

What is a template? ​

When should I use a template? ​

Twig syntax basics ​

Useful Twig filters ​

Product‑Live functions ​

targetItem and sourceItem ​

base64_encode() and base64_decode() ​

source() and target() ​

Reference Item ​

Twig examples ​

Testing your templates ​

XML configuration ​

Attributes ​

Template engines ​

twig.1 (default, legacy) ​

twig.2 (recommended) ​

Examples ​

Limits ​

Templates

What is a template?

When should I use a template?

Twig syntax basics

Useful Twig filters

Product‑Live functions

`targetItem` and `sourceItem`

`base64_encode()` and `base64_decode()`

`source()` and `target()`

Reference Item

Twig examples

Testing your templates

XML configuration

Attributes

Template engines

`twig.1` (default, legacy)

`twig.2` (recommended)

Examples

Limits