index.js

var settings = require('ep_etherpad-lite/node/utils/Settings');
var strftime = require('strftime');

exports.padCreate = function(hook, context)
{
  var id = context.pad.id;
  var found = false;

  // abort if ID is undefined
  if(!id) {
    return;
  }

  // check all specific templates
  for(var show in settings.ep_defaultPadText)
  {
    if(id.indexOf(show) == 0)
    {
      var number = id.substring(show.length);
      var text = settings.ep_defaultPadText[show].text;
      text = prepareText(text, id, number);
      context.pad.setText(text);
      found = true;
    }
  }

  // no template was found, see if there is a general one, '*'
  if(!found)
  {
    if(settings.ep_defaultPadText){
      var templ = settings.ep_defaultPadText['*'];
      if(templ)
      {
        var text = templ.text;
        text = prepareText(text, id, number);
        context.pad.setText(text);
      }
    }
    else{  // no settings..  lazy admin!
      var text = "No template found for ep_defaultPadText, please provide one!";
      console.warn(text);
      context.pad.setText(text);
    }
  }
}

function prepareText(text, id, number)
{
  text = text.replace("$num$", number);
  text = text.replace("$padId$", id);
  
  // Extract the $date$-placeholder out of our template
  var dateTokenRegex = /\$date:([^$]+)\$/;
  var dateToken = dateTokenRegex.exec(text);
  // replace the full placeholder by the current date formatted using the given format
  if(dateToken) text = text.replace(dateToken[0], strftime(dateToken[1]));

  return text;
}