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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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