In file templates and code templates the first pipe character (|) found will be removed and the cursor placed at that location. Would it be possible to get around that behavior and use some other marker for the cursor position? I have file templates with lots of literal pipe characters in (to make a comment box) and the default behavior is a bit annoying.

hmmm.
Technically everything is possible but...
may I ask you how you are using these pipes in your code?

As I said, in a comment box - something like:



Though it is much bigger and contains a standard file header for our company.

But I could also think of inserting code snippets that contains pipe characters.

would this combinaction \| satisfy you if we expand it to | and do not use it as a marked location to put cursor to while without slash it will work the same?

Yes, that would work.