django template system, calling a function inside a model

Question

You can't call a function with parameters from the template. You can only do this in the view. Alternatively you could write a custom template filter, which might look like this:

@register.filter
def related_deltas(obj, epk):
    return obj.get_related_deltas(epk)

So now you can do this in the template:

{% for i in channel_status_list %}
  {{ i|related_deltas:3 }}
{% endfor %}

If the method doesn't require any arguments, you can use the @property decorator and access it normally in the template.

class ChannelStatus(models.Model):
    ...
    @property
    def function_you_want_as_property(self):
        mystring = ""
        ...

For > 1 argument, use simple tags:

@register.simple_tag
def related_deltas(obj, epk, second_arg):
    return obj.get_related_deltas(epk, second_arg)

Template:

{% for i in channel_status_list %}
  {% related_deltas i 3 4 %}
{% endfor %}

(Note the change of syntax from {{ to {%)

Can take positional parameters (e.g. related_deltas i 3 second_arg=4 debug=true).

If you find that there are too many properties running around everywhere or you have a template filter for every other method that you write, another solution was suggested on IRC thanks @FunkyBob. It's a little well, erm, funky but it is nice in certain cases.

  class MethodProxy(object):
        """For consolidating into 1 method the calling of methods with various single args
        (suitable dictionary keys)

        class MyModel(models.Model):
            ...

            def magic(self, value):
                # Free the ponies

            def thing(self):
                return MethodProxy(self.magic)

        # Usage
        >>> m = MyModel()
        ...
        >>> m.thing['value'] == m.magic('value')

        # template
        {{ m.thing.value }}

        """

        def __init__(self, method):
            self.method = method
        def __getitem__(self, key):
            return self.method(key)

Another option is to define a property. See http://adam.gomaa.us/blog/2008/aug/11/the-python-property-builtin/ .

You write your function that can do pretty much anything you want. You make it a read only property. You call the property from the template.

Et voilà !!!!