Iron Router: How do I send data to the layout? - meteor

Question

Using Iron Router, I understand how to set data for a template. But how do I send data to a layout that was globally defined?
I set the router layout by:
Router.configure({ layoutTemplate: 'NAME' })
This will set the layout for all my routes.
However from my individual routes, I'd like to send data to the layout template.

Answer 1

The layout uses the data context defined with data in the route option. Here is an excerpt from Iron Router documentation:
Router.route('/routeName', {
...
// A data function that can be used to automatically set the data context for
// our layout. This function can also be used by hooks and plugins. For
// example, the "dataNotFound" plugin calls this function to see if it
// returns a null value, and if so, renders the not found template.
data: function () {
return Posts.findOne({_id: this.params._id});
},
...
}
We can also set the data context of the layout with this.layout like this:
Router.route('/routeName', function () {
this.layout('layoutName', {
data: function() {
return CollectionName.find();
}
});
});
In addition, we can refer to an existing layoutTemplate option like this:
Router.route('/routeName', function () {
this.layout(this.lookupOption('layoutTemplate'), {
data: function() {
return CollectionName.find();
}
});
});

Answer 2

Router.configure({
layoutTemplate: 'NAME',
data: function() {
return CollectionName.find();
}
});
As described in the Global Default Options in the iron:router docs:
You can set any of the above options on the Router itself...
Where 'above options' is referring to any of the Route Specific Options
You can also subscribe to a published Collection:
Router.configure({
layoutTemplate: 'NAME',
subscriptions: function() {
this.subscribe('CollectionName');
}
});