Using the `if` Snippet for Multiple Specific Resource IDs

A common menu or layout task is to activate a block only for a small set of specific resources. The old example looked like this:

[!if? &is=`[*id*]:is:183,187,185,186,188,184` &then=`@TPL:main-menu-active` &else=`` !]

and naturally raised the question of how far this pattern should be pushed.

The Main Problem

It can work, but large inline conditions quickly become unreadable. They are also easy to duplicate across templates, which makes maintenance harder later.

Better Options

• keep the list small and documented if the condition is truly static
• move the list into one chunk or configuration point
• switch to parent-based or template-based logic if the pages belong to a real structural group

Practical Advice

If the rule is really “these exact six pages,” the snippet is fine. But if the rule is secretly “all pages in one section,” model the section properly and stop hard-coding IDs. The old question still matters because it points to the moment when a quick condition should become a real content rule.