How to pass data from sources to template function?

[asprin]

If I make a SELECT query from the sources file (sources/Example.php), then how would I pass the returned data to the template function being called?

sources/Example.php

Code Select Expand

function DoSomething()
{
    global $context;
    loadTemplate('Example');
    $data = <get some data by querying the database>
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .

    $context['sub_template'] = 'listData';

    // now pass this $data to the listData function
}

themes/default/Example.template.php

Code Select Expand

function template_listData()
{
    // access $data here
}

One thing that I can think of is creating a key in the $context array and assigning the data to that key and then accessing it via the global $context variable. But I was wondering if there is a better/alternate approach to this.

[Arantor]

That's exactly what SMF does, it's even why it's called $context: it contains everything contextually relevant to the current page.

[asprin]

That's great. I was just wondering if there was any alternative way of doing this too.

[Arantor]

Not without a redesign of SMF.