From 44949f9529551940630d61b6a989def4e3df5712 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Sky Johnson <skylearj@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2025 08:53:40 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] update parser docs for templates

---
 internal/packets/PARSER.md | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 50 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/internal/packets/PARSER.md b/internal/packets/PARSER.md
index 9a8db77..e98d689 100644
--- a/internal/packets/PARSER.md
+++ b/internal/packets/PARSER.md
@@ -90,6 +90,42 @@ Organize related fields with automatic prefixing:
 
 ```
 
+## Templates
+
+Define reusable field groups that can be injected into packets:
+
+```xml
+<!-- Define template -->
+<template name="position">
+	<f32 name="x,y,z">
+	<f32 name="heading">
+</template>
+
+<template name="appearance">
+	<color name="skin_color,hair_color,eye_color">
+	<str16 name="face_file,hair_file">
+</template>
+
+<!-- Use templates in packets -->
+<packet name="PlayerUpdate">
+	<version number="1">
+		<i32 name="player_id">
+		<template use="position">
+		<i8 name="level">
+		<template use="appearance">
+	</version>
+</packet>
+```
+
+Templates work with groups for prefixing:
+
+```xml
+<group name="current">
+	<template use="position">
+</group>
+<!-- Creates: current_x, current_y, current_z, current_heading -->
+```
+
 ## Arrays
 
 ```xml
@@ -125,6 +161,7 @@ Organize related fields with automatic prefixing:
 | Attribute | Description | Example |
 |-----------|-------------|---------|
 | `name` | Field name(s), comma-separated | `"id,account_id"` |
+| `use` | Template name to inject | `"position"` |
 | `if` | Conditional parsing expression | `"flag:has_guild"` |
 | `size` | Fixed array size for `char` type | `"10"` |
 | `count` | Array size variable | `"var:item_count"` |
@@ -210,6 +247,17 @@ playerName := result["player_name"].(common.EQ2String16).Data
 ## Complete Example
 
 ```xml
+<!-- Define reusable templates -->
+<template name="position">
+	<f32 name="x,y,z">
+	<f32 name="heading">
+</template>
+
+<template name="appearance">
+	<color name="skin_color,hair_color,eye_color">
+	<str16 name="face_file,hair_file">
+</template>
+
 <substruct name="StatBonus">
 	<i8 name="stat_type">
 	<i32 name="base_value" type2="f32" type2_if="stat_type==6">
@@ -221,7 +269,8 @@ playerName := result["player_name"].(common.EQ2String16).Data
 		<i32 name="player_id,account_id">
 		<str16 name="player_name">
 		<i8 name="level,race,class">
-		<color name="skin_color,hair_color" if="version>=562">
+		<template use="position">
+		<template use="appearance" if="version>=562">
 		<str16 name="guild_name" if="flag:has_guild">
 		<i32 name="guild_id" if="flag:has_guild&level>=10">
 		<i8 name="stat_count">