Multiple layers of DB templates?

["Konrad, Martin" <konrad@frib.msu.edu>]

Hi all,
I need to create an EPICS database for a soft IOC with 60 identical 
devices. Each of these devices has a set of records that are identical 
for multiple inputs. Having the DRY pattern in mind, I was wondering if 
I could somehow use two levels of DB templates. Here is what I have in mind:

st.cmd:
dbLoadTemplate("myproject.substitutions")

myproject.substitutions:
global { SYS=...,SUBSYS=... }
file mydevice.db {
   pattern { ... }
   { ... }
   { ... }
}

mydevice.db:
<some records here>
substitute "INPUT=1"
include "myinput.db"
substitute "INPUT=2"
include "myinput.db"

myinput.db:
<a couple of records needed for each input>

A manual run of MSI tool on mydevice.db handles both the "substitute" 
and the "include" keyword correctly but by default macro expansion is 
done at dbLoadTemplate time. This however results in

Error: syntax error
  at or before "substitute" in file "mydevice.db" line 16

It seems like dbLoadTemplate doesn't support the "substitute" keyword. I 
found a BNF definition of the substitution file format in chapter 6.12.1 
of the Application Developer's Guide [1]. Unfortunately I did not find a 
definition like this for DB files/templates. Can you please help me out 
here?

I am aware that I could use 60 dbLoadTemplate lines instead (that would 
clutter IOC boot output, though). I could also pull in both mydevice.db 
and myinput.db from the substitutions file directly - but for that I 
need to add N lines referring to myinput.db in the substitution file for 
each line referring to mydevice.db (assuming a device with N inputs). Is 
there a nicer way to do this?

Thanks a lot,

Martin

P.S.: BTW: Is there a difference between a DB file and a template? Are 
their file names supposed to have different suffix (".template" vs. ".db"?

[1] http://www.aps.anl.gov/epics/base/R3-15/3-docs/AppDevGuide.pdf

-- 
Martin Konrad
Control System Engineer
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
Michigan State University
640 South Shaw Lane
East Lansing, MI 48824-1321, USA
Tel. 517-908-7253
Email: konrad@frib.msu.edu