Template error messages

When a template has a problem, you’ll see a message explaining what’s wrong. Here are the most common ones.

Note

Some messages are warnings rather than blockers. For example, an unrecognised data marker is flagged so you can correct it, but the template can still be saved — the unknown marker simply outputs nothing.

Curly braces

Message	Cause	Fix
Missing closing curly braces near ...	An opening {{ has no matching }}.	Add the closing }}.
A single opening curly brace cannot designate a data marker ...	Only one { where two are needed.	Use {{ and }} in pairs.
A single closing curly brace is not allowed ...	A stray }.	Use }} to close.

Unknown markers and helpers

Message	Cause	Fix
<name> is not defined	The data marker isn’t recognised.	Check the spelling and pick it from the marker list.
The helper '<name>' does not exist	A helper name is misspelled.	Check the helper name (e.g. #if, #foreach).
<name> is not a data marker or variable name	The name breaks the naming rules.	Use lowercase letters, numbers, dots, and underscores.

Blocks not closed

Message	Cause	Fix
No {{#endif}} close tag found	An #if has no #endif.	Add {{#endif}}.
No {{#endforeach}} close tag found	A #foreach has no #endforeach.	Add {{#endforeach}}.

Loops

Message	Cause	Fix
'#foreach' statement is not defined correctly.	The #foreach line is malformed.	Check the marker and any sorting instruction.
'<name>' is not a list.	You’re looping over something that isn’t a list.	Use a list marker (e.g. matter.timerecords).

Calculations

Message	Cause	Fix
Calculation cannot be empty	#calc has nothing to calculate.	Add an expression, e.g. {{#calc property.price / 10}}.
variable declaration must contain an '=' sign	#var is missing =.	Use {{#var $x = ...}}.
'<name>' is not a valid name for a variable	The variable name is invalid.	Start with $ and follow the naming rules.
Decimal places must be a whole number of 0 or more	#ceil / #floor was given a fractional or invalid decimal-places argument.	Use a whole number, e.g. {{#ceil $x = property.price / 100 2}}, or omit it for 0.

Conditions

Message	Cause	Fix
Expected an operator but got '<x>'	Two values with no operator between them.	Add an operator like =, >, or and.
Expected an operand but got '<x>'	An operator with nothing to act on.	Check the expression is complete.
'<x>' is not a valid parameter	A value in the condition isn’t valid.	Use a marker, number, or quoted text.

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