---
title: "Template fields and functions"
slug: "efp-template-tokens-and-functions"
description: "Learn how to create Exact Forms Plus document templates, format fields, insert images, and use functions for numbers, currency, and charts effectively."
tags: ["Quickbase Extension", "Exact Forms Plus", "Document Generation"]
updated: 2026-10-09T16:18:36Z
published: 2026-10-09T16:18:36Z
canonical: "help.quickbase.com/efp-template-tokens-and-functions"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.quickbase.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Template fields and functions

This page lists what you can put in an Exact Forms Plus document template: how each type of field appears, how to format dates, how to insert images, and the functions for numbers, currency, barcodes, and charts. To build a template and add it to Quickbase, see [Exact Forms Plus document templates](https://help.quickbase.com/quickbase-extensions/docs/en/efp-document-templates).

Two rules apply to everything on this page:

- Tokens go between tildes (`~`), for example `~Customer Name~` or `~5~`.
- Every field you use, including inside a function, must be in the template's **clist**. If it isn't, the token is left in the document as typed. See [Insert field values](https://help.quickbase.com/quickbase-extensions/docs/en/efp-document-templates#field-tokens).

## How field types appear

| Field type | In the document |
| --- | --- |
| Text, numeric, currency | The value as Quickbase returns it, for example *$7,485.52*. |
| Text with **Allow some HTML tags to be interpreted** turned on, rich text | The HTML is converted to Word formatting (bold, lists, links, and so on). |
| Date | A short date, for example *3/22/2010*. To use another format, see [Dates](/quickbase-extensions/docs/efp-template-tokens-and-functions#dates). |
| Date/time | Date and time, for example *03-22-2010 02:30:00 PM*, in the app's time zone. |
| Numeric percent | The percentage, for example *8.625%* for a value of 8.625%. |
| Checkbox | A Word check box, checked or not, sized to the surrounding text. |
| User | The raw value Quickbase returns, not the person's name. To show the name, create a formula text field with `UserToName([My User Field])` and use that field in the template instead. |
| File attachment with an image | The image, 300 wide. To set the size, use an image token (see [Images](/quickbase-extensions/docs/efp-template-tokens-and-functions#images)). |

## Dates

To format a date field, use `~d#f[field ID]#format~`. The format uses the standard date codes: `d`/`dd` day, `ddd`/`dddd` weekday name, `M`/`MM` month number, `MMM`/`MMMM` month name, `yy`/`yyyy` year.

For example, with field 26 a date field holding 3/22/2010:

| In the template | In the document |
| --- | --- |
| `~26~` | 3/22/2010 |
| `~d#f[26]#MM/dd/yyyy~` | 03/22/2010 |
| `~d#f[26]#MMM-dd-yyyy~` | Mar-22-2010 |
| `~d#f[26]#MMMM-dd-yyyy~` | March-22-2010 |
| `~d#f[26]#dddd, dd MMMM yyyy~` | Monday, 22 March 2010 |
| `~d#f[26]#dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy~` | Monday, March 22, 2010 |
| `~d#f[26]#MMMM dd~` | March 22 |
| `~d#f[26]#yyyy MMMM~` | 2010 March |

- If the field is empty, the token is replaced with nothing.
- Use a date format only. If the format contains a time (a colon), only the date part is used and the time is always added as *hh:mm:ss AM/PM*.

### The current date

Replace `f[26]` with `today`, for example `~d#today#MM/dd/yyyy~`. The date comes from the Exact Forms Plus server, which runs on US Eastern time. For another US time zone, use `today(CST)`, `today(MST)`, or `today(PST)`, which subtract 1, 2, or 3 hours.

You can also let Word insert the date. Word fills it in when the document is opened, not when it's created:

1. In the template, put the cursor where the date should appear.
2. On the **Insert** tab, in the **Text** group, select **Date & Time** (tooltip *Insert Date and Time*).
3. Choose a format, select the **Update automatically** check box, and select **OK**.

## Images

Use an image token to insert an image and set its size: `~i:field ID:size~`. Image tokens take a field ID, not a field name.

| Token | Result |
| --- | --- |
| `~i:100:400~` | 400 points wide (72 points = 1 inch). The height keeps the image's proportions. Up to 3 digits. |
| `~i:100:200x150~` | Exactly 200 wide and 150 high. The image can look stretched if the proportions differ. |
| `~i:100:25%~` | The original size made 25% smaller. |
| `~i:100:25%F~` | 25% of the original size. |
| `~100~` | On an image field, the image 300 wide. |

The field can be:

- a file attachment field that holds an image;
- a text or formula text field whose value is a link to an image, in Quickbase or on another website, for example a formula that points to a file attachment in another table. An HTML `<img>` tag works too, and if the image is inside a link, the link is kept.

Supported image types: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .tif, .tiff, .wmf. Photos taken on phones are turned the right way up automatically. Formula URL fields that link to an image on another website aren't converted; use a formula text field instead.

Tip: try a few sizes in test documents until the image fits.

## Functions

Functions start with `~=`. Inside a function, refer to a field as `f[field ID]`. Functions work in the main part of the template, not inside embedded reports.

### Numbers in words

`~=FormatN(f[field ID],option)~` writes a number in words. The options are:

| Option | Writes the number as |
| --- | --- |
| `$` | Dollars and cents, each word capitalized |
| `$l` | Dollars and cents, all lowercase |
| `€` | Euros and cents, each word capitalized |
| `€l` | Euros and cents, all lowercase |
| `n` | A plain number, each word capitalized |
| `nl` | A plain number, all lowercase |

To type € in Windows, hold Alt and type 0128 on the number pad. For example, with field 13 a currency field holding $7,485.52 and field 14 a numeric field holding 6,542.99:

| In the template | In the document |
| --- | --- |
| `~13~` | $7,485.52 |
| `~=FormatN(f[13],$)~` | Seven Thousand Four Hundred Eighty Five Dollars and Fifty Two Cents |
| `~=FormatN(f[13],$l)~` | seven thousand four hundred eighty five dollars and fifty two cents |
| `~=FormatN(f[13],€)~` | Seven Thousand Four Hundred Eighty Five Euros and Fifty Two Cents |
| `~=FormatN(f[13],€l)~` | seven thousand four hundred eighty five euros and fifty two cents |
| `~14~` | 6,542.99 |
| `~=FormatN(f[14],n)~` | Six Thousand Five Hundred Forty Two point Ninety Nine |
| `~=FormatN(f[14],nl)~` | six thousand five hundred forty two point ninety nine |

If the field isn't a number, the document shows *Format Function Error: … is not numeric, it cannot be reformatted*.

### Ordinal numbers

`~=FormatO(f[field ID],option)~` writes a number as a position in a list. With field 15 holding 1:

| In the template | In the document |
| --- | --- |
| `~15~` | 1 |
| `~=FormatO(f[15],s)~` | 1ST |
| `~=FormatO(f[15],sl)~` | 1st |
| `~=FormatO(f[15],p)~` | First |
| `~=FormatO(f[15],pl)~` | first |

The options are case-sensitive: use lowercase `s`, `sl`, `p`, `pl`.

### Currency symbols

If a currency field uses a symbol other than $, the symbol may not come through correctly. Use `~=C|symbol|f[field ID]~` to put the symbol in front of the value, for example `~=C|€|f[99]~`.

### Barcodes and QR codes

`~=barcode(f[field ID],type,widthxheight)~` turns a field's value into a barcode, for example `~=barcode(f[123],qrcode,50x50)~`. For the supported types, text and size options, barcodes in embedded reports, and error messages, see [Add barcodes and QR codes in Exact Forms Plus](https://help.quickbase.com/quickbase-extensions/docs/en/efp-barcodes).

### Charts

`~=Chart:template ID:chart ID:size~` inserts a chart from a Quickbase Document Creation template. See [Charts and graphs for EF+](https://help.quickbase.com/quickbase-extensions/docs/en/charts-and-graphs-for-ef).

See also: [Exact Forms Plus document templates](https://help.quickbase.com/quickbase-extensions/docs/en/efp-document-templates), [Exact Forms Plus formula URL parameters](https://help.quickbase.com/quickbase-extensions/docs/en/efp-formula-url-parameters).