Handlebars is used to create dynamic, personalized compensation letters that automatically populate employee-specific data like salary, bonuses, and equity information from your HRIS or compensation management system. This templating approach allows you to maintain a single master template that generates customized letters for each employee, ensuring consistency while eliminating the need to manually edit individual documents.

Handlebars is used to create dynamic, personalized compensation letters that automatically populate employee-specific data like salary, bonuses, and equity information from your HRIS or compensation management system. This templating approach allows you to maintain a single master template that generates customized letters for each employee, ensuring consistency while eliminating the need to manually edit individual documents.

### Comparison Operations

| **Type** | **Function** | **Purpose** | **Example** | **Output** |
|----|----|----|----|----|
| **Equals** | eq | Compares two values for equality | `{{#if (eq v1 v2)}}` | true/false |
| **Not equal** | ne | Compares two values for inequality | `{{#if (ne v1 v2)}}` | true/false |
| **Less than** | lt | Checks if the first value is less than the second value | `{{#if (lt v1 v2)}}` | true/false |
| **Greater than** | gt | Checks if the first value is greater than the second value | `{{#if (gt v1 v2)}}` | true/false |
| **Less than or equal** | lte | Checks if the first value is less than or equal to the second value | `{{#if (lte v1 v2)}}` | true/false |
| **Greater than or equal** | gte | Checks if the first value is greater than or equal to the second value | `{{#if (gte v1 v2)}}` | true/false |


### Math Operations

| **Type** | **Function** | **Purpose** | **Example** | **Output** |
|----|----|----|----|----|
| **Addition** | add | Returns the sum of an unlimited set of numbers | `{{add a b}}` | number |
| **Subtraction** | subtract | Returns the difference between two numbers | `{{subtract a b}}` | number |
| **Multiplication** | multiply | Returns the product of an unlimited set of numbers | `{{multiply a b}}` | number |
| **Division** | divide | Returns the division of two numbers | `{{divide a b}}` | number |
| **Rounding** | round | Returns the value rounded to the nearest integer, the second variable controls the # digits rounded to | `{{round value}}` | number |
| **Ceiling** | ceil | Returns the value rounded **up** to the nearest integer | `{{ceil v1 v2}}` | number |
| **Floor** | floor | Returns the value rounded down to the nearest integer | `{{floor v1 v2}}` | number |
| **Max** | max | Returns the maximum of an unlimited set of numbers | `{{max arg1 arg2 ...}}` | number |
| **Min** | min | Returns the minimum of an unlimited set of numbers | `{{min arg1 arg2 ...}}` | number |
| **Absolute Value** | abs | Returns the absolute value of a number | `{{abs v1}}` | number |
| **Modulo** | mod | Calculates the remainder | `{{mod v1 v2}}` | number |
| **Exponents** | power | Performs the exponentiation operation, i.e. x^y | `{{ power x y }}` | number |

### Logical Operations

| Operation | Syntax | Example | Output |
|----|----|----|----|
| **and** | Evaluates to true if all arguments are true | `{{#if (and condition1 condition2)}}` | true/false |
| **or** | Evaluates to true if any argument is true | `{{#if (or condition1 condition2)}}` | true/false |
| **includes** | Checks if the first value includes the second value | `{{#if (includes v1 v2)}}` | true/false |
| **not** | Evaluates to true if the argument is false | `{{#if (not condition)}}` | true/false |

### Date Operations

| **Operation** | **Syntax** | **Example** | **Output** |
|----|----|----|----|
| **dayDiff** | Returns the number of days between two dates | `{{dayDiff date1 date2}}` | number |
| **monthDiff** | Returns the number of full months between two dates | `{{monthDiff date1 date2}}` | number |
| **dateAdd** | Adds days to a date | `{{dateAdd date daysToAdd}}` | date |
| **dateFormat** | Changes the display format of a date | `{{dateFormat date formatString}}` | string |
| **duration** | Tenure-like formatting for the duration between two dates | `{{duration date1 date2}}` | string |

### Variable Operations

| **Operation** | **Syntax** | **Example** | **Output** |
|----|----|----|----|
| **setVar** | Sets a temporary variable with a value for intermediary calculations | `{{setVar varName varValue}}` | - |
| **setMapVar** | Sets a temporary variable with a map for intermediary calculations | `{{setMapVar mapName mapValue}}` | - |
| **getMapVal** | Fetches a value from a map via key | `{{getMapVal mapName key}}` | any |

### Text Operations

| **Operation** | **Syntax** | **Example** | **Output** |
|----|----|----|----|
| **concat** | Joins strings together to form a new string | `{{concat string1 string2 estring3}}` | string |
| **coalesce** | Returns the first non-null argument | `{{coalesce var1 var2 var3}}` | any |
| **inlineIf**	 | Equivalent to `=IF(condition,ifTrue,ifFalse)` in Google Sheets | `{{inlineIf condition ifTrue ifFalse}}` | any |
| **substring** | Returns a portion of a string | `{{substring text start end}}` | string |
| **split** | Splits a string and returns a portion of it | `{{split text delimiter index}}` | string |
| **toUpper** | Upper cases the text input | `{{toUpper text}}` | string |
| **toLower** | Lower cases the text input | `{{toLower text}}` | string |
| **titleCase** | Capitalizes each word in the input | `{{titleCase text}}` | string |
| **toString** | Converts a value to a string | `{{toString v1}}` | string |
| **toNumber** | Converts a string to a number | `{{toNumber v1}}` | number |
| **formatCurrency**	 | Formats a number as the specified currency | `{{formatCurrency v1 'USD'}}` | string |
| **replace** | Replaces the occurrence of a string with another string | `{{replace text thisString withThisString}}` | string |
| **isNullOrUndefined** | Returns true if argument is null or undefined | `{{ isNullOrUndefined x }}` | boolean |


## Use Cases

### Calculate Total Compensation

Add multiple compensation components together to get a combined total.

**Examples:**

```
{{divide (multiply columns.salaryRaise 100) columns.basePay}}
{{divide (multiply columns.annualBonusCash 100) columns.newBase}}
{{multiply (divide columns.salaryRaise columns.basePay) 100}}
```

### Calculate Compa Ratio Changes

Measure how much an employee's band position is changing.

**Examples:**

```
{{subtract columns.newCompaRatio columns.currentCompaRatio}}
{{add columns.currentCompaRatio 0.05}}
{{multiply (subtract columns.newCompaRatio columns.currentCompaRatio) 100}}Calculate Annualized Impact
```

Convert one-time payments or partial-year impacts to annual figures.

**Examples:**

```
{{multiply columns.salaryRaise 12}}
{{multiply columns.onTimeBonusCash 1}}
{{add (multiply columns.salaryRaise 12) columns.annualBonusCash}}
```


### Calculate Budget Multipliers

Apply multipliers to base compensation changes.

**Examples:**

```
{{multiply columns.salaryRaise 1.3}}
{{multiply (add columns.salaryRaise columns.annualBonusCash) 1.25}}
{{multiply columns.newBase 0.15}}
```

### Round Salary Values

Clean up calculated salary amounts to standard increments.

**Round to nearest cent:**

```
{{divide (round (multiply columns.newBase 100)) 100}}
```

**Round to nearest ten cents:**

```
{{divide (round (multiply columns.newBase 10)) 10}}
```

**Round to nearest dollar:**

```
{{round columns.newBase}}
{{round (add columns.basePay columns.salaryRaise)}}
```

**Round to nearest $100:**

```
{{multiply (round (divide columns.newBase 100)) 100}}
{{multiply (round (divide (add columns.basePay columns.salaryRaise) 100)) 100}}
```

**Round to nearest $1,000:**

```
{{multiply (round (divide columns.newBase 1000)) 1000}}
```

### Convert Custom Values to Percentages

Format decimal values as percentages when working with custom columns.

**Examples:**

```
{{multiply columns.customValue 100}}%
{{multiply (divide columns.customRatio 1) 100}}%
{{divide columns.customValue 100}}%
```

### Calculate Ratios and Proportions

Compare one compensation element to another to understand relative sizing.

**Examples:**

```
{{divide columns.annualBonusCash columns.newBase}}
{{divide columns.equityRefresherShares columns.currentTotalAnnualCash}}
{{divide columns.salaryRaise basePay}}
```

### Display Text Based on Conditions

Show different text based on employee data or compensation values.

**Examples:**

```
{{#if (eq columns.performance "Exceeds")}}
  Exceptional Performance
{{else if (eq columns.performance "Meets")}}
  Solid Performance
{{else}}
  Developing
{{/if}}
{{#if (gt columns.salaryRaise 0)}}
  Merit Increase Applied
{{else}}
  No Salary Change
{{/if}}
{{#if columns.isPromotion}}
  Promoted to {{columns.newJobLevel}}
{{else}}
  Current Level: {{columns.level}}
{{/if}}
```

### Handling Whitespace

If your formula spans multiple lines, handlebars can sometimes render the template with unexpected whitespace. Handlebars supports whitespace control using a \~ within the handlebars braces.

**Examples:**

```
{{#if columns.isPromotion}}
	{{~columns.newBase~}}
{{else}}
  {{~columns.basePay~}}
{{/if}}
```


In the above case, adding the \~ on either side of the output values strips out whitespace on both sides. There may be a case where your output value is not stored in another column:

```
{{#if columns.isPromotion~}}
	Promoted
{{~else~}}
  Not Promoted
{{~/if}}
```


The `~` character will always strip whitespace from that side of the block. So, everything to the right of `{{#if columns.isPromotion~}}` , everything on both sides of `{{~else~}}`, and everything to the left of `{{~/if}}` is stripped of whitespace.


:::tip
Tips: 

* Most compensation values are already pre-formatted
* Use the live preview to check your column outputs before saving changes
* Combine multiple operations using parentheses: `{{multiply (add a b) c}}`
* All `{{#if}}` statements must end with `{{/if}}`

Returns the maximum of an unlimited set of numbers	`{{max arg1 arg2 ...}}`	number


:::




Using Handlebars Formula for Calculated Columns

Comp Planner Configurations Overview

Compensation Planner 101

Getting Started - Compensation Planner

Compensation Planner FAQs

Cycle Specific Permissions

Employee Eligibility

Step 1: Initial Cycle Setup

First-Class Columns

Columns

Step 2: Column Configuration

OTE Planning Configuration Guide

What is OTE Planning?

Step 3: OTE Planning

Am I able to update or change approval chains during a cycle?

Updating Approval Chains

Compensation Cycle Data Upload

Step 4: Data Management

How can I configure market adjustment recommendations for employees?

How can I configure variable raise recommendations for employees?

Recommendation Logic

What are Recommendations?

Step 5: Recommendation Logic

Budgets

Budget Dashboard

Top Down Budgets: In-app Configurations

Step 6: Budget Confirmation

Planning Windows Setup Guide

Planning Windows Overview

Monthly & Hourly Pay

Employee Compensation History Popout

UI Toggles

Filtering & Sorting

Approval Statuses

Step 7: Planner Experience

Smart Flags

Compensation Outliers

Manager Compression Flag

Vesting Drop Flag

Step 8: Controls & Governance

Peers Overview

Cycle Outcomes

Value Rounding in Compensation Planning

In App Reward Letter Editor

Reward Letters

Peers Configuration Guide

Cycle Progress Dashboard Overview

Other Cycle Actions

 Compensation Planner

Market Data Connections Set up

Market Data Connections Overview

Integrations 101

Integrations

Adding Columns

Team View Overview

Team View Column Configuration

Team View Customizations

Re-ordering Columns

Deleting Columns

Team View Settings

Team View

Logging In

Custom Role Creation Guide

Creating an Account

How to add a colleague to Pave’s Market Data Platform

Market Data Role Management

Why does it matter to get levels and role families right?

SSO Configuration Guide

Account Setup

Contact Us

How much does Pave Market Data access cost?

How does Pave Work?

Intro to Pave

Pave 101

Compensation Philosophy

Total Compensation

Compensation 101

The Stock Option Lifecycle

ISO Tax Implications

The Basics of Stock Options

The Confusing AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax)

ISO Strategies

An Overview of How Stock Options Work

Equity 101

Account Creation Troubleshooting and FAQs

How to Benchmark Executive Compensation

Login Troubleshooting and FAQ

How does company size affect which department, job family and job level I should choose?

How does Pave determine a role level and role family?

What are Job Levels, Departments and Job Families? Why are they important?

Troubleshooting Rippling Zero Records Error

What Market Data Connections does Pave currently support?

FAQs

Getting Started

Survey aging

Edit and apply benchmarks

Set weights and logic

Map data sources to jobs

Supported survey providers

Manage Pave data sources

Manage survey data sources

Benchmarks overview

Step 2: Benchmarking

Band Sets

Pay Types: Calculated TDC, Annual Equity, and Refresh Equity

Manually Create New Band Sets

Bands Set Audit Log

How to duplicate band sets

Managing & Reordering Calculated Columns

Calculated Columns

Unmatched Employees

Upload/Download Bands

View changes

Editing Bands

Employee Distribution in Bands

Pay Zone Manager

Job Architecture 101

Grades

Setting up Company Job Architecture

Company Job Architecture

Step 1: Build Foundation

Generate Bands from Market Data

Bulk & Manually Associate Market Data to Bands

Step 3: Update Ranges

Relative Permissions

Generate Bands for New Jobs in Your Job Architecture

Compare Bands

Advanced Filters

Ongoing Management & Analysis

Market Pricing

Option Driver Deprecation FAQs

Option Driver

Option Impact Deprecation FAQs

Option Impact

Option Impact & Option Driver

Executive Reporting Dashboard

Cycle Monitoring and Reporting

Building Market-Based Compensation Bands

Employee Groups

Cycle Configuration

How does Recommendation Logic work?

Am I able to change another user’s permissions or login credentials while impersonating?