Choose Automatic, Text, HTML, or URL Output for QCDR Joomla Data Tokens

Every QCDR Joomla content / dynamic data Token has an Output handling setting. It controls how the resolved Joomla value is inserted into rendered output: Automatic, Plain text, HTML / formatted content, or URL / attribute-safe value.

The safest choice is usually Automatic because QCDR chooses handling from the selected data source and still enforces server-side restrictions on which sources may emit raw HTML.

Automatic for This Data Source

Automatic uses source-aware defaults:

• Article intro text, article full text, article custom fields, and stored module content use HTML handling.
• Current page URL, current menu item link, and specific menu item link use URL handling.
• Other sources—such as IDs, titles, aliases, site name, component/view names, language tags, and user names—use Plain text handling.

This keeps ordinary scalar data escaped while allowing known stored-content sources to retain their intended markup.

Plain Text

Plain text strips HTML tags from the source value and HTML-escapes the remaining text before insertion. Use it when the visitor should see the data as text and stored markup must not become live page markup.

This is a useful explicit choice for custom fields whose storage may contain markup but whose QCDR use should be a label, heading fragment, or other text-only value.

HTML / Formatted Content

HTML handling returns the stored value as markup only for QCDR's approved HTML-capable sources: article intro/full text, article custom fields, and stored module content. Other data sources are forced back to text handling even if a forged or old configuration requests HTML.

HTML mode does not execute PHP or recursively render Joomla modules. Treat it as insertion of trusted stored markup that the current visitor is already authorized to read.

URL / Attribute-Safe Value

URL handling trims the value, rejects dangerous javascript:, vbscript:, and data: schemes, and escapes it for safe insertion as a URL/attribute value. Automatic selects this mode for QCDR's URL/link data sources.

Choosing URL mode does not turn arbitrary text into a Joomla route. Use a source that actually produces a URL when the value is intended for a link or attribute.

How to Choose

• Use Automatic for most Joomla data Tokens.
• Use Plain text to suppress stored markup.
• Use HTML / formatted content only when trusted article/field/module markup is intentionally required.
• Use URL / attribute-safe value when the Token is specifically supplying a URL-like value.

Test in the Real Target

Output handling affects how the same stored value behaves in rendered HTML. Test the Token in its actual direct placeholder or Rule target, and confirm that markup, special characters, and links appear exactly as intended without exposing an unsafe scheme or unexpected HTML.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCDR feature? Visit the QC Dynamic Replacer Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.