Understanding and Using Templates

How to:

Reference:

You can use templates to choose from a number of layouts and themes to assist in the creation of HTML pages. Templates provide report and chart frames, a form for controls, text boxes, and other objects arranged in a fixed layout that simplifies the design process. By using templates, styling is predefined for you so that you only have to provide information for the objects to create an HTML page that is ready to use. Controls cannot be added manually, they must come from parameters in the reports and charts. If you build a page using templates, you will not be able to freely arrange objects or add controls manually.

Note: To create an HTML page without using templates, select Cancel from the Template Selector window.


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Reference: The Template Selector

When you create a new HTML page, the Template selector opens and provides options for different layouts and themes, as shown in the following image.

The main components of the Template selector are:

Templates List Box

Displays options for tabbed and non-tabbed templates. Both tabbed and non-tabbed templates have the option of simple or advanced. Advanced templates contain elements for additional titles, hyperlinks, and descriptions. Simple templates contain less objects.

Layouts Pane

Displays options for the layout part of the template. You can choose the number of reports or graphs for the HTML page to contain, as well as how those reports and graphs are laid out within the page.

Themes Pane

Displays options for the theme (color scheme) of the template. You can choose one of seven different themes. Move the pointer over a theme in the Themes pane to select it. The theme options are:

  • Information Builders
  • Black
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Orange
  • Purple
  • Red
  • Silver
  • Teal
  • Plain
  • Yellow red
  • Beige blue
  • Dramatic blue
  • Neutral gray
  • Light blue
  • Light green
  • Light purple
Guided Report Mode

Sets the HTML page to Guided Report Mode. For more information on Guided Reports, see Creating Guided Report Forms.

Don't show again

Sets the Template Selector to be turned off by default. If you select this check box, the Template selector will not appear the next time you create an HTML page. To reactivate the Template Selector, see How to Turn the Template Selector On.


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Reference: Report Sets

Report sets are containers on an HTML page designed in Template mode that hold a form and controls, reports, and the report set title. Adding a new report set to a page will add all of these elements to the page.

Note: The form and controls will not display on the HTML page until they are needed. For example, if you import a report that contains variables, the form and controls will display.


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Procedure: How to Use the Template Selector
  1. Create a new HTML file by completing one of these actions:
    • With the HTML folder highlighted, select New from the File menu, then select HTML file.

      or

    • Right-click the HTML folder and select New then Guided Report Form.

      or

    • Click Layout Reports and Graphs in the QuickLinks pane.

    The Add HTML File dialog box opens.

  2. Enter a name for the new HTML file in the File name field.
  3. Ensure that Composer is selected in the Create with field.
  4. Click Open.

    The Template Selector opens.

    Note: If Don't show again was checked the last time the Template selector was opened, the HTML Composer will open, skipping the Template selector window. To access the Template selector again, see How to Turn the Template Selector On.

  5. From the Templates List Box, select Simple or Advanced from the Non-tabbed or Tabbed section. For more information on Tabbed and Non-tabbed templates, see Tabbed and Non-Tabbed Template Types.
  6. From the Layouts pane, select a layout for the HTML page.
  7. From the Themes pane, select a color scheme for the HTML page.
  8. If desired, select the Guided Report Mode check box to enter Guided Report mode when the HTML page is created.

    If you selected the option to create an HTML page in Guided Report mode, this check box will not be visible. For more information on Guided Report mode, see Creating Guided Report Forms.

  9. If desired, select the Don't show again check box to skip the Template Selector window the next time an HTML page is created.

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Reference: Tabbed and Non-Tabbed Template Types

When you create an HTML page using a template, there are two template types to choose from. Both template types have the option of simple or advanced. Advanced templates contain elements for additional titles and descriptions. Simple templates contain less objects. Advanced templates also contain a Hyperlinks strip.

The elements for titles and descriptions in advanced templates are text objects that you can double-click to enter edit mode and edit the text.

Tabbed templates contain numbered tabs for each report set. Non-tabbed templates have no tabs. The title of each tab can be edited.

The DOCUMENT object in HTML pages created with templates has the property Tabbed layout. If set to Yes, each report set will be converted to a tabbed layout. If set to No, tabs are removed from the layout.


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Procedure: How to Turn the Template Selector On

If you select the Don't show again check box on the Template selector window when you create an HTML page, the Template selector no longer appears when creating a new HTML page. The following procedure explains how to turn the Template selector on so that it shows up when creating a new HTML page.

  1. Select Options from the Window menu. The Developer Studio Options dialog box opens.
  2. Select the HTML Page tab.
  3. Select the Show 'Template Selector' dialog check box from the HTML Page tab and click OK.

    The Template Selector window appears the next time you create a new HTML page.


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Reference: Template Usage Notes

The following describes the functionality and restrictions associated with HTML pages created with templates. Unless otherwise noted, these descriptions do not apply to a template that has been unlocked.


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