Question

For a json data as below is there any possible way to construct a treeview consisting of underscore.js templates. I don’t have lightest knowledge on how to mix functions, recursions into underscore.js templating functionality. I don’t have the power to produce json hierarchy from the server( it is decided by upper management).

[{
    name: "Home",
    url: "index.html",
    id: 1,
    parentid: 0
}, {
    name: "Company",
    url: "company.html",
    id: 2,
    parentid: 0
}, {
    name: "AboutsUs",
    url: "aboutus.html",
    id: 3,
    parentid: 2
}]

Expected View output

<ul>
    <li>
        <a href="index.html">Home</a>
    </li>
    <li>
        <a href="company.html">Company</a>
        <ul>  
            <li>
                <a href="aboutus.html">AboutUs</a>
            </li>
        </ul>
    </li>
</ul>

Answer 1

yes you can,
you can use

<% %>

to write javascript code.

<ul>
    <% _(your_data).each(function(param) { %>

        <li><%= param.name%></li>
        <!-- more code -->
    <% }); %>
</ul>

more here http://documentcloud.github.com/underscore/#template

hope it helps,
Good Luck!