/**
   * Returns the tempalte variables for the sort parameter.
   *
   * @param parameter must not be {@literal null}.
   * @return
   * @since 1.7
   */
  public TemplateVariables getSortTemplateVariables(
      MethodParameter parameter, UriComponents template) {

    String sortParameter = getSortParameter(parameter);
    MultiValueMap<String, String> queryParameters = template.getQueryParams();
    boolean append = !queryParameters.isEmpty();

    if (queryParameters.containsKey(sortParameter)) {
      return TemplateVariables.NONE;
    }

    String description = String.format("pagination.%s.description", sortParameter);
    VariableType type = append ? REQUEST_PARAM_CONTINUED : REQUEST_PARAM;
    return new TemplateVariables(new TemplateVariable(sortParameter, type, description));
  }