Creating documents using templates

Using a template to create a document allows you to pattern the new document after an existing one. The same dataset, controls, formatting, and layout as the original are used in the new document. However, you can add to or modify the document after it is created. For example, the Blank Dashboard template opens a document with only a single section displayed, allowing you to use the full screen to create an interactive, dashboard-style document. For more information on interactive documents, see Creating interactive documents.

For more information on document templates, see Creating document templates.

Prerequisites

• This procedure assumes that you have already created a template or plan to use one created by MicroStrategy.

• See the prerequisites to work with MicroStrategy Report Services documents.

To create a document using a template

1. From the File menu of MicroStrategy Developer, select New and then Document. The New Document dialog box opens.

   If the Select a report dialog box opens, object templates are disabled for documents. Enable them by following the directions in Steps to use object templates.

2. Select the template and click OK.

   To view additional templates to create an interactive document, click the Dashboards tab. The most basic template here is the Blank Dashboard template, which displays only one section, the Details Header. This allows you to easily design an interactive document using the whole screen. Other predefined dashboard document templates provide a structure for interactive documents, such as four evenly-spaced panel stacks to place contents in, one panel stack on the left side of the document and two smaller ones on the right, or a text field across the top of the document for a title bar with a panel stack below it.

3. If the document template does not contain a dataset, the Select a report dialog box opens. Navigate through the report folders and select the MicroStrategy report or Intelligent Cube to use as a dataset. You can select multiple reports by holding the SHIFT or CTRL key while selecting the reports. Click OK.

   • If you select multiple reports, all the selected reports are added to the document. The first dataset in alphabetical order is defined as the grouping and sorting dataset. You can sort and group the document using fields from the grouping and sorting dataset only. For instructions to change the grouping and sorting dataset, see Changing the grouping and sorting dataset for a document. For more information on using multiple datasets in documents, see Creating multi-layout documents.

   • If you select an Intelligent Cube, you cannot select another Intelligent Cube or report. For details about using Intelligent Cubes in documents, see Using Intelligent Cubes as datasets.

4. The new document opens in the Document Editor with the dataset objects, controls, formatting, and layout of the template. You can then customize the document:

   • Add text and data

   • Display HTML content in a document: HTML containers

   • Add lines

   • Add rectangles

   • Add images

   • Remove objects

   • Group the document

   • Sort the document

   • Add totals

   • Format the document

   The toolbar contains an Undo button that allows you to roll back actions you did in error. This includes formatting, totals, grouping, sorting, adding data, and so on.

5. Save the document by selecting Save from the File menu.

6. You can view the document by clicking PDF View on the toolbar. Adobe Acrobat Reader opens, displaying the actual data in the format you created. For more information, see Printing and previewing documents.

Related Topics

• Creating document templates

• Creating documents

• Designing documents