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  3. Admin > Settings > Email & Order Templates

How Do I Use the Variables Not in the Default Order Templates?

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Lee Prazner
Updated

DecoNetwork order templates can be customized with HTML, CSS, and Liquid variables. Liquid is a flexible, open-source template language created by Shopify and used in many web applications to dynamically generate content. While the default templates include the most common variables, you can also use additional ones to display more detailed information in your order emails and documents. This article explains how to work with these extra variables.

Warning: The provided customization tools are intended only for aesthetic changes and adding custom data. Altering system functionality through these tools is not supported and may cause errors, reduce update compatibility, and lead to additional support charges.

In This Article

Prerequisites

  • Basic familiarity with HTML and CSS.
  • Working knowledge of Liquid syntax (variables, tags, filters).
  • Admin access to your DecoNetwork site.
  • Email & Order Templates app enabled (required for template customization on Standard or lower plans)
  • System status set to Testing and test orders available to preview your changes.

Why use extra variables

Default templates may not cover all the details you want to include. Using non-default variables allows you to:

  • Show detailed pricing (e.g., split product vs decoration cost).
  • Include operational details like sales team member, priority flag, or production lead time.
  • Improve customer communication with shipment dates, coupon codes, or tracking links.
  • Insert internal metadata or custom fields for specialized workflows.

Liquid primer

You need to have a good understanding of the Liquid programming language to customize the templates. However, here is a brief introduction to how Liquid works.

Liquid is a template language used to render dynamic content. Liquid is written just like regular HTML markup with the addition of easy-to-read constructs, Liquid statements are built using a combination of hree key concepts: objects, tags, and filters.

Objects (variables)

Objects contain expressions that display the variable data. Liquid objects are commonly referred to as Liquid variables. Objects are denoted by a set of double curly braces containing the variable expression.

 {{ variable_goes_here }}

E.g. To display the title of an order.

{{ order.title }}

Tags (logic and flow)

Tags display the logic that tells the template what data to display. Tags are denoted by a set of curly brace percentage delimiters.

{% logic_goes_here %}

E.g. To print out the payment instructions if the order uses COD.

  {% if order.using_cod? %}
     <h3>Payment Instructions</h3>
     <p>{{ order.payment_instructions }}</p>
  {% endif %}

Filters (format variables)

Filters are used to change the output of a liquid variable. Filters tell the template how to format the data. You can invoke filters by following the value in an object with a pipe character (|), followed by the name of the filter.

E.g. To format the order balance as currency.

{{ balance | format_currency }}

If you are new to Liquid, start with the Liquid Crash Course for DecoNetwork Templates.

Examples of non-default variables

Here are some common use cases for non-default Liquid variables you can include in your order templates. Click any link below to view an example of how to use these variables outside the default templates.

Testing and validation

  1. Create or use a test order in your site.
  2. Add the snippet into your template.
  3. Preview the rendered output in the editor or by clicking Test Template.
  4. Wrap optional variables with {% if ... %}{% endif %} to avoid errors if the variable is empty.

Liquid syntax errors can cause templates to break. You can find the default template code on each template's configuration page. To start fresh, copy that code into the template editor.

Best-practice tips

  • Use filters like | money or | date: "%B %d, %Y" for formatting.
  • Check object paths carefully (e.g., nested fields like order.sales_team_member.name).
  • Keep templates lean — too much logic can slow rendering.

Additional Resources

Still have questions? Use the Search Tool at the top of the page to find more related guides. Need help? Click the icon to submit a support ticket—our Client Services team is ready to assist!

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