Get Started Using the Template Builder

This section describes how to get started with creating RTF templates using the Template Builder for Word.

It contains the following topics:

Features of the Publisher Template Builder for Word

When you open Microsoft Word after installing the Template Builder, you see the Publisher menu. Using this you can perform different tasks.

For Microsoft Word users, the Publisher commands are displayed in the ribbon format.

Use the menu (or toolbar) to perform the following:

Insert data fields into age RTF templates
Insert tables, forms, charts, and pivot tables
Preview the template in multiple outputs
Browse and update the content of form fields
Validate the template
Perform calculations on fields within the template
Connect to the Publisher catalog to retrieve data to build the template
Upload the template to the Publisher server
Extract boilerplate text into an XLIFF translation file and test translations

Build and Upload a Template

You can build and upload the template using a direct connection with the Publisher server, or you can build and upload the template in disconnected mode.

Work in Connected Mode

Connected mode allows you to make changes directly on the Publisher server.

To work in connected mode:

Open Microsoft Word.
From the Publisher menu, select Log On.
Enter your Publisher credentials and the URL for the Publisher server, for example: http://www.example.com:7001/xmlpserver. (Contact your system administrator if you do not know the URL.)
The Open Template dialog presents the same folder structure as the Publisher catalog. Select the report or data model for which you want to build a template.
If you selected a data model:

Click Create Report to create a report for this data model in the Publisher catalog. This is the report that you upload the template to.

Enter a Report Name and select the folder in which to save it.

Click Save.

The sample data from the data model is loaded to the Template Builder.

If you selected a report:

Click Open Report to load the data to the Template Builder; or double-click New in the Layout Templates pane.

Any existing templates are listed in the Layout Templates pane.
Follow the guidelines in this chapter to insert data fields and design the template using features such as tables, charts, and graphics. Use Microsoft Word to apply formatting to fonts and other objects in the template.
To upload the template file to the Publisher server and add it to the report definition, select Upload Template As from the Publisher menu.

If you haven't saved the template, then you are prompted to save it in Rich Text Format.
Enter a name and select a locale in the Upload as New dialog. This is the name that is displayed under Layouts in the Report Editor. This is also the layout name that is displayed when a user runs this report.
Configure properties for this layout.

Navigate to the Publisher report editor to configure properties for this layout, such as output formats.

Work in Disconnected Mode

To work in disconnected mode, you must have a sample data file available in the local work environment.

To work in disconnected mode:

Save a sample data file to your local computer.
Open Microsoft Word with the Template Builder installed.
On the Publisher menu in the Load Data group select Sample XML. Locate the sample data file in the local directory and click Open. The Template Builder also supports using XML Schema to design an RTF template. However, because the schema contains no data, the preview of the report also contains no data.
Follow the guidelines in this chapter to insert data fields and design the template using features such as tables, charts, graphics, and other layout components. Use Microsoft Word to apply formatting to fonts and other objects in the template.
Upload the layout template file.

In the catalog, open the report in the Report Editor. Click Add New Layout.

Complete the fields in the dialog and then select Upload. The template now appears as a layout for the report.
Configure properties for this layout.