Document Templates
Designer > Data > Objects > {object} > Print Templates
Print templates are powerful tools, allowing you to set up documents that pull information from a specific object, like a mail merge. Print templates are loaded into the platform and can be used to set up standard proposals, queries, contracts, invoices, etc., and generate PDF documents unique to specific records - any document that you can dream up.
Examples
- Create an Expense Report to be used in expense management application
- Print an Employee Benefit Form
- Print templates are created outside of the platform, using an HTML editor
How it Works
The Print Templates feature lets you generate graphical mail-merge-style PDF documents using variables and HTML. You can use these templates to create prefilled forms, invoices, contracts, and other types of documents using data stored in your application. The platform uses the Apache Velocity templating engine to create powerful dynamic documents. See http://velocity.apache.org for more information.
- Before you add a print template, you first create an HTML document that includes all of the text, images, logic, etc. that you want to include in your template.
- While creating this document, you should make note of the fields you will later add to the document. Use the Template Variables lookup section to find the field names that will allow you to customize the HTML file. See HTML Resources for more information.
Some features to consider when building print templates:
- CSS styles can be embedded into the HTML file, giving you a high degree of control of the final output of the file.
- Images can be placed into your document server and accessed by the template via Web access.
- Using the Velocity scripting language, you can build logic directly into the template to change the content based on specific customer parameters.
Add a Print Template
Use the Template
- To use the template, open a record in the object. A set of buttons will be displayed with the record.
- Click the [Print] button to print the record using the Print Template
See Also
Sample print templates are available for use and customization.
[[Category:Template:Features]]