TeamDesk Knowledge Base & Support

Marc Andre Lacas 11/12/2014 11:50:01 AM

To summarize, when generating the "template.docx" file, why not reproduce the form, instead of listing all columns in a "pre-defined"/"default" order. Or specify which form to use, as a basis for the "graphic design" of the docx "print out" from TeamDesk.

rishi uttam 11/12/2014 10:23:27 PM

That may be difficult to do I think.

I do like the templates in word, similar to creating reports in access. You only have to do it once for each template, and its easy to edit.

Kirill Bondar  Staff  11/13/2014 2:12:13 AM

Marc: from what we have seen documents rarely duplicate form design, they are rather something completely different. Our users typically take already existing corporate document and stuff it with the placeholders by copying them from a template.

Marc Andre Lacas 11/13/2014 2:57:14 AM

Kirill: I understand that this is probably 80-90% of the cases. However, in my case, I am in the process of creating a portfolio/project management application/database for which I have no corporate document, so I find myself starting from scratch, and since the form layout tools allow you to sort out the fields/columns, I was wondering if I could quickly replicate that in Word, using the form layout as a "basic" design for the "printed" version. I agree that the "docx" method used right now is convenient, but I think it may help others that may encounter a situation such as mine. Also, it creates a visual link between the "online" form and its printed version. In my case, I am using TeamDesk to store the project data, the form to organize the data entry/access to the data and the printed form (docx or pdf) as a way to store a "final" version of the "documents". So I am working from the inside out, instead of having to fill existing corporate Word documents, I am using TeamDesk to create structured data for the projects, then the printout will be generated based on what the user needs to see/is able to see. - Thanks for the quick response !

Kirill Bondar  Staff  11/13/2014 6:45:37 AM

Marc: ok, it's not hard to generate the template duplicating form layout but what is then? Once document is stored in TeamDesk we do not make any changes inside of it except for maintaining placeholder names in sync with columns, since we have no idea about the content.

Any change made to the form renders it out of sync with the stored document. Generating new template after form change will lead to inability to make any customization inside of the template since you'll lose them after next change.

Then the question - if the document should duplicate the design of form why not to print the form off the page into PDF file? We are hiding navigation elements on print so there would be no tabs, menus and sidebars anyway - only the "data part" of the page is printed.

Marc Andre Lacas 11/13/2014 8:19:06 AM

It depends on the size of the form. If the form is longer than one printed page, then it is up to the "printing software" for the PDF or for the printer" to decide where to cut the page (insert a page break), and it ends up cutting the form and hiding some of the data (cutting a section in two and putting a header and a footer on every page or messing with the margins). To avoid this, I tought: "what if I could use a first exportation from the form as a docx as a first "draft", then adapt the docx to my needs (insert page breaks between sections, for instance), then I would have a better control on the printed output. Because you have implemented a better control on how forms look and behave in TeamDesk, it becomes almost easier to "design" the Layout(s) of the Form(s) until satisfactory, then output to a "docx" file, than to start from scratch using a blank docx, with a long list of columns... Of course, if it is too complicated or involves too many changes for your team at TeamDesk, I can always create a docx in Word, placing the placeholders/columns in a form that replicates the layout I have on screen in TeamDesk. It is not a mission critical thing, but if I could save time in Word by reusing what I have done in TeamDesk, I would appreciate. PS: First time in my life that I get this level of support for a question like this. Keep up the good work!