Tip: Editing generated reports in Word - D-Tools Forum

08-23-2007, 02:37 AM

Hi fellow D-Toolers!

I found myself wanting to touch up a report generated in SI5 and noticed the RTF export feature in ActiveReports.NET 3 (the reporting engine used by SI5) tends to lose some of the formatting when opened in Word.

[Warning: Reference to non-D-Tools third-party software below!]
To get around this, I downloaded and installed the trial version of "ePrint Professional" from http://www.eprintdriver.com/free-evaluation.htm which retails for $49 US.

All you do is click on "Print" in the report preview window in the Reporting Centre and select "File type: Document Formats" and then select "Save as: MS Word" and click on Save.

Have attached a sample report in .DOC format which was generated by ePrint. The graphics are heavily compressed (I presume it's a limitation of the trial I was using) but at least it is possible! (The trial version also includes some nag messages but you get the idea)

If anyone knows of an easier way to accomplish export to Word I'd like to hear from you.

Cheers,

Damian.

Gurkha · 08-23-2007, 09:27 AM

I would like to hear as well, SI4 could generate all sorts of reports in word, but SI5 to rtf format looks like eck. They need to bring that functionality back.

Reed Phillips · 08-23-2007, 11:09 AM

I'm just curious... what is driving the requirement to need Word? Do you need to edit the report before sending it to a client? If so, what do you need to edit? What do you typically "touch up"?

08-23-2007, 12:56 PM

The biggest reason for us: Page Breaks.
Also we email quotes quite often so we need them in a Word doc.

Reed Phillips · 08-23-2007, 12:58 PM

If the page breaks worked properly, would you not prefer to send a PDF that could not be edited by the client?

Reed Phillips · 08-23-2007, 01:02 PM

I agree page breaks can be a pain. We are working on this issue. We hope to substantially reduce the need to tweak the reports.

08-23-2007, 01:23 PM

I agree, in SI4 Page breaks are a big pain, haven't seen SI5 yet though

Gurkha · 08-24-2007, 01:53 AM

Originally Posted by Reed Phillips

I'm just curious... what is driving the requirement to need Word? Do you need to edit the report before sending it to a client? If so, what do you need to edit? What do you typically "touch up"?

aside from the xml error in the combined word report for cost per phase and payment schedule, and the non spacing of address information, i liked the one click report/contract solution, it was one of the things that sold me on SI in the first place.

Reed Phillips · 08-24-2007, 11:56 AM

I agree, that is one of the reasons we moved to the current reporting environment, to provide a more "one click experience" and the ability to easily modify and combine reports.

Gurkha · 11-26-2007, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Reed Phillips

I agree, that is one of the reasons we moved to the current reporting environment, to provide a more "one click experience" and the ability to easily modify and combine reports.

In regards to this statment, SI4 had the "Combined Word" report. I am not sure how this is handled in SI5, is there a button I am missing or do I need to create a new report that has all the reports I need in one report? Right now I created a report group so I can run one report, but the problem is in page numbering, I end up with Page 1, followed by page 1, followed by page 1-6, followed by page 1-8 etc... it would be nice to once again have page 1-16, and the table of contents back as well.