Preview the RTF Form Template

Using the Debugger, you can test that your RTF form template generates in the format and style with the content that you expected. For more information, see Review a Form Generated From an Interview.

Using Analytics Publisher, you can also preview your RTF form template using "real" data. To do this, you generate some real data, then load it into your template and then preview the output.

Note: There are limitations to using the Analytics Publisher Preview function with the data contained in the sample XML file that is created when you add a form to a project. For example, if your template contains unformatted attribute values, trying to preview the form in Analytics Publisher will result in an error. For this reason it is recommended that you only use the Preview function with "real" data generated by the Debugger as outlined below.

Generate the real data

"Real" data can be generated from an interview in the Debugger. To do this:

  1. In Policy Modeling, click the Debug button.
  2. In the Debugger, enter the data as required. For more information on using the Debugger, see Investigate a Goal and Test an Interview.
  3. Click the menu button.
  4. Select the Export Form Data For <name of form> option for the document that you want to generate data for. If the form is an entity-level form and data exists for multiple entity instances, you will need to select which entity instance to export the form data for.

    The Export Form Data for an entity instance in the Debugger
  5. In the Save As dialog, enter a file name and select the destination folder. Click Save.

Note: When the XML data is generated, every attribute with a name regardless of whether it is known, unknown or uncertain is output. However, entity instances and change point values are only output if they actually exist in the session, so if you do not have either of these you will not see them in your generated XML.

Load the real data

After you have generated your "real" data, you need to load it into your template.

  1. Open your template file in Word. On the Publisher ribbon, select Sample XML.

    Sample XML button on BI Publisher ribbon

  2. In the dialog box, select the XML file that contains your "real" data (see above). You will be told when this data has been loaded successfully.
  3. Click OK.

Preview the output

After you have loaded your "real" data, you can preview the form in your choice of format.

  1. In Word on the Publisher ribbon, click on the appropriate Preview option.

    Preview options on BI Publisher ribbon

  2. Review the generated form.
  3. If necessary, go back to your RTF form template to make any changes.

If you are having problems with the display of any elements in your form, see the Troubleshooting Guide for Forms.