def METHOD_NAME(template_file, inps):
    """Read input template file into inps.excludeDate"""
    print('read options from template file:', os.path.basename(template_file))
    from mintpy.dem_error import key_prefix
    from mintpy.utils import ptime, readfile, utils1 as ut
    iDict = vars(inps)
    template = readfile.read_template(template_file, skip_chars=['[', ']'])
    template = ut.check_template_auto_value(template)
    # Read template option
    key_list = [i for i in list(iDict.keys()) if key_prefix+i in template.keys()]
    for key in key_list:
        value = template[key_prefix+key]
        if key in ['phaseVelocity']:
            iDict[key] = value
        elif value:
            if key in ['polyOrder']:
                iDict[key] = int(value)
            elif key in ['excludeDate','stepFuncDate']:
                iDict[key] = ptime.yyyymmdd(value.split(','))
    # computing configurations
    dask_key_prefix = 'mintpy.compute.'
    key_list = [i for i in list(iDict.keys()) if dask_key_prefix+i in template.keys()]
    for key in key_list:
        value = template[dask_key_prefix+key]
        if key in ['cluster', 'config']:
            iDict[key] = value
        elif value:
            if key in ['numWorker']:
                iDict[key] = str(value)
            elif key in ['maxMemory']:
                iDict[key] = float(value)
    return inps