TinyMCE editor plugin 'Template' as a 'Drupal plugin' instead?

Template plugin is an important function as it allows one to insert pre-defined HTML templates or snippets to the content. If people need WYSIWYG editor, chance is they also want this function. This can very well be a deal breaker in choosing an editor.

Anyway, I manage to enable this function by following the given thread. You may consider to incorporate it in future release.

In my example, I store the template list in /sites/template_list.js but it can be placed anywhere else.

1. In tinymce.inc file:

Add the following entry to the $init array in the function wysiwyg_tinymce_settings():
'template_external_list_url' => base_path().'sites/template_list.js',

Add the following entry to $plugins array in the function wysiwyg_tinymce_plugins():

    'template' => array(
      'path' => $editor['library path'] .'/plugins/template',
      'buttons' => array('template' => t('Insert templates')),
      'url' => 'http://wiki.moxiecode.com/index.php/TinyMCE:Plugins/template',
      'internal' => TRUE,
      'load' => TRUE,
    ), 

2. My sample /sites/template_list.js file:

// This list may be created by a server logic page PHP/ASP/ASPX/JSP in some backend system.
// There templates will be displayed as a dropdown in all media dialog if the "template_external_list_url"
// option is defined in TinyMCE init.

var tinyMCETemplateList = [
	// Name, URL, Description
	["Page: 1", "sites/tinymce_templates/page1.htm", "Page One layout."],	
	["Page: 2", "sites/tinymce_templates/page2.htm", "Page Two layout."]
];

3. Create your own page1.htm and page2.htm accordingly.

4. Enable the button in your wysiwyg profile. Done!