# Standardize Django Template Indentation with DjHTML from Linux command line or PyCharm ## What is DjHTML? > `DjHTML` is a pure-Python Django/Jinja template indenter without dependencies. It standardizes the indentation for [Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/3.2/ref/templates/) or [Jinja](https://jinja.palletsprojects.com/en/3.0.x/) templates throughout your Django project. DjHTML (intentionally) only works on one file at a time. This simplifies DjHTML development and prevents issues with trying to support differences in directory navigation for each operating system. You can read more about DjHTML at it's [GitHub repository](https://github.com/rtts/djhtml) . In order to operate on multiple files or entire directories, we can use built-in tools to apply DjHTML to multiple files. This short guide assumes you are working with Linux and that you have followed the [installation instructions](https://github.com/rtts/djhtml#installation) for DjHTML. If you are working with a different operating system, it may get you started in the right direction. --- ## Using DjHTML on a directory of templates from the command line Because DjHTML only takes action on a single file on its own, we need to combine a couple of built-in command line tools within Linux to use it with multiple files at once: `find`, `xargs`, and piping. The [find](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/find-command-in-linux-with-examples/) command lets us search for files that meet certain criteria. In our case, we want to search within the current directory (and any subdirectories) for all files that end in **.html**. The single period "**.**" in the example below tells the `find` command to search starting from the current directory. You can replace the period with any valid relative or absolute path. The `-name` argument of the `find` command is where we specify the criteria for the file names we want returned by the command. Here, we use the wildcard "*****" to specify that we want *any* files that end in **.html** We then use a [pipe](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/piping-in-unix-or-linux/) "**|**", which redirects the output of one command, program, or process as input to another. Here, we are passing any files found by the `find` command to the `xargs` command for further processing. The [xargs](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/xargs-command-unix/) command allows you to build up and execute commands with arguments from standard input. Each output of the `find` command (each file that was 'found') will be passed as an argument to `xargs`, which will then apply `DjHTML` indentation to it. Combining all of this, to apply DjHTML to all html files in the current directory, use the following: ```bash find . -name "*.html" | xargs djhtml -i ``` *Take a look at [this issue](https://github.com/rtts/djhtml/issues/13#issuecomment-842553382) on DjHTML's GitHub Issues and read through the links provided above on each command for more information.* --- ## Using DjHTML in PyCharm ### Indent Whenever an HTML File Changes PyCharm has a [file watcher](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/pycharm/using-file-watchers.html) functionality that allows you to apply actions whenever a file changes and is saved. We can add a new File Watcher to automatically apply indentation when a changes are made to a file. In order to identify the installed location of DjHTML, which you'll need below, use the following on the command-line: ```bash whereis djhtml ``` To add the File Watcher, from the **File** menu in PyCharm select **Settings**. The **Settings** window will open with a hierarchical menu on the left side. Within that menu, navigate to **Tools** and select **File Watchers**. In the **File Watchers** panel, select the **+** button near the top and from the drop-down, select **< custom >**. The **Create File Watcher** dialog will open. You should be able to use the settings below. ```text Name: DjHTML File Type: HTML Scope: Project Files Program: * Full path to your install of DjHTML * Arguments: -i $FilePath$ Output Paths: $ProjectFileDir$ ``` Be sure that "Trigger the watcher on external changes" is checked. It should look something like this: ![Screenshot from 2021-10-24 20-31-17.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1635122785650/5tZo5ehzY.png) Click **Ok** on the **Create File Watcher** and **Settings** dialog windows. Any time you change an html file in your project and save it, DjHTML should automatically apply indentation. ### Use External Tools to Apply Indentation as Needed [External Tools](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/pycharm/configuring-third-party-tools.html) in PyCharm makes it easy to apply actions from third-party tools (like DjHTML) to arbitrary files or directories of files in your project. From the **File** menu in PyCharm select **Settings**. The **Settings** window will open with a hierarchical menu on the left side. Within that menu, navigate to **Tools** and select **External Tools**. In the **External Tools** panel, select the **+** button near the top to add a new **External Tool**. The **Create Tool** dialog will open. Because of oddities with entering arguments in PyCharm's **External Tools**, you'll need to pass the arguments to the [bash](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/introduction-linux-shell-shell-scripting/) command, rather than running DjHTML directly. If your copy of `bash` is at a non-standard location, you can identify the location by using the following command: ```bash whereis bash ``` You should be able to use the settings below, modifying the path to `bash`, if needed. ```text Name: DjHTML Description: Django/Jinja template indenter Program: /usr/bin/bash Arguments: -c "find '$FilePath$' -name '*.html' | xargs djhtml -i" Working Directory: $ProjectFileDir$ ``` What it should look like within PyCharm: ![Screenshot from 2021-10-24 17-28-03.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1635112049055/dWkJju1Pv.png) Click **Ok** on the **Create Tool** and **Settings** dialog windows. Now you should be able to *right-click* on any directory or file in the **Project** pane of the PyCharm IDE, select **External Tools -> DjHTML**, and the selected files will be indented and saved. ![Screenshot from 2021-10-24 18-09-02.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1635113674632/L5umeeotE.png) --- Congratulations! Now you can easily standardize the indentation of all templates within your Django projects!