Agenda

Introduction using
XML to get an
EXCEL format
Creating a simple
excel template
Old Vs. New

Creating Excel XML Templates for Generating Excel

formatted Reports

Pavel Bogouchevitch Neelima Kartha

pbogouchevitch@astcorporation.com nkartha@astcorporation.com
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after todays presentation
Prerequisites
Microsoft Excel 2003 or later

Created report data model

BI publisher desktop
BI Publisher
Architecture
 BI Publisher Features
Connection to BI Publisher server that
has sample data and templates
Field browser to edit or delete
mappings
Preview option with live or sample data
Data field and repeating group
mappings
XML Output
Excel Template
 Retrieving XML Output
Application Developer
Responsibility
Concurrent
Find your program
Save Output Format as XML
XML Output
 Building a Simple Template
1.BlankExcelTemplate.xls file

2.Designing the layout in Excel

3.Assigning BI Publisher defined names

4.Preparing the XDO_METADATA sheet

5.Testing template
 Starting with a Blank Template

BlankExcelTemplate.xls provided by BI
publisher

XDO_METADATA sheet included

Blank Excel Template
 Mapping
XDO_METADATA Sheet

Created for mapping

whenever field or
repeating group is
inserted
Mapping between the
data and the
spreadsheet
 Creating a Sample Design

Determine
how you want
the data to be
placed
 BI Publisher Defined Names
Mark cells with XDO_ defined names necessary
for mapping

XDO_ is the required prefix

?order_date? is either:
the XML tag name
a name used for mapping derived value to the
cell
Example: XDO_?EMPLOYEE_ID?
Name Manager
Grouping
 XDO_METADATA Sheet
Required by BI publisher to process the template
Consists of two sections
Header section
Column A entries necessary
Value is required for only one: Template
Type : Type_Excel_Template

Data Constraints section

Not required unless there are calculations
Mapping

Header
Section

Data Constraints
Section
 Test the Template
To preview your report using sample data:

Click Sample XML

Click Preview

Output will open in new workbook

 Enabling Lookup Output
1. Setting template type to XLS
(Enable option 'XLS' in XDO_TEMPLATE_TYPE
lookup code, AOL )

A. Query out Type 'XDO_TEMPLATE_TYPE

B. Check 'Enable' checkbox of record 'XLS
C. Enter 'XDO_XLS_TEMPL_OUTPUTS' in 'Tag'
field of this record
D. Save
Enter 'XDO_XLS_TEMPL_OUTPUTS' in 'Tag' field of this record
 Enabling Lookup Output
2. Setting Output to Excel
Enabling option EXCEL
XDO_XLS_TEMPL_OUTPUTS lookup code

A. Query out Type

XDO_XLS_TEMPL_OUTPUTS
B. Make sure option 'EXCEL' is enabled
Creating Data Definitions
Uploading Excel Template
Old VS New

VS
Alternative Method
Alternative Method
Alternative Method
Alternative Method
 Limitations of Excel Templates
Images are not supported for multiple sheets
images are displayed only on the first sheet

manual coding or XSL/XSLT specifications

necessary when designs are complex