Template Vs. Criteria Creation

Does anyone know of good resources that would help the transition between criteria files and templates for cross section creation? For example, how would you get a template to do the equivalent of an 'if then' statement? or how to do search for the low point within a cross section? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Instead of referring to a set a videos, it would be great if there was anyone from a DOT or similar organization that has already gone through this transition and created documentation.