Template Menu

Below is the Administrator Export/Extract Template Menu expanded.  Click on the menu items below for documentation in each of those sections.

Add - Use the Template Add functionality to create a new template.

List - Use the Template List functionality to display the list of templates currently loaded within your Unanet system.  From this list of templates, you can modify or delete templates as well.

Import - Use the Template Import functionality to import existing templates.  Unanet comes with a number of standard templates included (already loaded).  You can also download additional templates from our ftp site.

Steps to Create a Template

To create a new template, you need to follow several steps, as outlined below:

• Identify which type of data you want to export or extract (e.g. time oriented, project oriented, etc).

• Identify the basic layout of the output data (e.g. commas separated or fixed formatted).

• Use the Template Add screen to define the basic high level information about a template and to give it a name.

• Next, you'll want to define the specific layout rules for each of the possible record types.  When doing this step, you'll need to access the Edit Template Detail screens.  Here are a list of items to consider during your template creation:

  • Formulate a rough design for your file layout or report
    • What record types do you need?
    • What fields do you need?
    • What kind of control breaking and sorting will you need?
    • Does your report need headings?
  • Build a "stub" template containing all the fields on the correct record types. You don't have to worry about the values of the fields yet, just get all the placeholders there.
  • Go back and add in the details for each field.
    • Constants
    • Fields
    • Expressions
    • Formatting
    • Null values
    • Alignment
  • Add in any fields necessary for control breaking. These fields can be hidden if you do not need them to appear in the output.
  • Set your sort order -- keeping in mind your grouping and summing needs.

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Last revised: February 13, 2003.