Create a Template

To create a template, click Add in the Add / Update Templates section. The Add Template dialog is then displayed.

Enter the name and description of the new template in the Template Name and Description fields.

From the Template Type list, select either Single or Multiple:

• Single templates are used when generating reports on a single item in the database, within a category of item.

• Multiple templates are used when generating reports on an entire category of item and on database queries (user defined and pre-defined).

If the Multiple option is selected, extra settings are displayed:

From the Table Path list, select the database table name associated with the category of item (e.g. Instruments, Equipment, Lines, or a query).

The Path field displays the location in which the Excel report template will be placed when created.

In the Layout section, specify the maximum number of Rows and Columns of reports generated using the template.

If the template is to include a cover sheet, check the Cover Sheet checkbox.

If the Multiple template type was selected, the Limit Number of Records per Sheet checkbox and the associated Layout Format options are displayed.

If the records (for example, tags) per sheet are to be limited to a set number, check the checkbox. The other settings then become available.

Note: If the template consists of multiple sheets, the Limit Number of Records per Sheet checkbox should not be checked.

Enter the number of records per sheet in the Number of Tags field.

The Layout Pattern setting defaults to the Multiple Sheet Layout option and cannot be changed.

Select the required Layout Direction for records, either Horizontal or Vertical.

Click Assign Template and Add Designator. The Select Template File dialog is then displayed (a standard file selection dialog). Browse for the Excel file that will form the basis of the Excel report template and click Open.

Note: Templates with multiple sheets may be selected.

The Excel Reports Template Designer dialog is then displayed.

There will be a tab for each sheet, including the cover sheet if one was specified.

The left-hand section of the dialog lists all the designators that can be added to the template. The content of the list depends on the category of item or query that was selected from the Table Path list. For example, if the Instruments item category was selected, designators for all instrument attributes are listed. In addition, drawing (DWGLIST) attributes are available for all categories of items.

Also listed are designators for the attributes of item categories with which items within the selected category/query may be associated. For example, if the Instruments item category was selected, Line designators are also listed, so that the attributes of lines on which inline instruments are located may be included on reports generated using the template.

The right-hand section of the dialog displays the selected Excel template file.

Use the Zoom buttons, field and list of magnifications to zoom in and out.

As required, edit the content of the template file to add column headings, define column widths and so. Note that more complex formatting work (for example, adding a company logo) should be undertaken in Excel before the template is selected during this procedure.

To add a designator to the template, select the cell in which the data derived from the designator to be displayed in reports generated using the template, then click on the required designator, and drag it in the template. The designator is then placed in the selected cell. Repeat this process for each item of data that is to appear on reports generated using the template. A designator may be selected more than once.

Note: If setting up a "Multiple" type template, for example, a template to be used to display data for all items with a selected item category or the results of a query, designators may only be placed on a single row. In reports generated from such templates, each row will display data for a single item. The row to which the designators were added will be to first row of data.

If setting up a "Single" type spreadsheet for a single item, designators may be placed in any row and in any layout.

To add a major revision or a minor revision to a template, right-click on the top-level node in the designator list (e.g. INSTLIST, EQUIPLIST), and select the required option from the menu that is then displayed:

Next, select the cell that the revision is to be placed in on the template. A designator for the selected option is then displayed in the that cell. For example:

Save a template, click Save. To save a template and close dialog, select the Save & Exit option from the drop-down menu opened by clicking on the arrow next to the Save button. Close can be used to close the dialog without saving.

On the Add Template dialog, click Add to add the template to the list of templates that may used when generating reports on the database, and close the dialog.