Use the include file template element to attach or link
to external files from your report.
About this task
You can choose to link the file or
physically embed the file into your output document. However, the
way that include file elements are handled depends on the output format
and the location from which you are retrieving the file.
Physically embedding files
About this task
When you are selecting files from a local or remote location:
For Legacy PDF, HTML, and XSL-FO outputs, the
included file is always a hyperlink.
For PDF output, the included file is imported
and the full contents of the document display.
For Microsoft Word
output, an INCLUDE TEXT field is generated. This
means that the task of importing the file is delegated to Microsoft Word. An include file is not
visible in the output document until all fields are updated. To update
the fields, use the Update Fields feature in Microsoft Word or use the macros that are
contained in the %RPE_HOME%\utils\word\rpe.dot style
sheet.
Tip: A Microsoft Word
document that links to other files is not self-contained. Moving the
document on other computers prevents you from visualizing the content
of the linked documents. If visualization is needed, use the Break
links feature, which is Alt+E+K in Microsoft Office 2007, from Microsoft Word to include the contents
of a linked file.
When you are selecting files from the Central
Management component and
physically embedding them:
For HTML and XSL-FO outputs, the file is included in a ref folder
and a link is created in the report to the file.
For Microsoft Word
or PDF outputs, the file is imported into the report in its original
file format.
For Legacy PDF output, the file cannot be physically embedded.
Select a different output type or dynamically reference the file.
Procedure
Drag an Include
file element to the template content editor. The Select a file window opens.
Select a .doc, .docx, .txt,
or .rtf file to include:
From the Central
Management component:
Select the Load from library tab.
Expand the library name.
Select a file.
From a local or remote location:
Select the Open local or remote tab.
Click Browse.
Select a file.
Tip: If you find yourself always using the same
tab to choose a file, select the Default to this view when
working with files option. Then the Select a
file window always opens to this tab.
Click OK.
Select the Include file element in
the template content editor.
In the Properties view, select the Specific tab.
In the Including type field, select Physically
embedding to import the document into the report during
document generation.
Optional: In the Command field,
enter a command that is to be issued during document generation.
Click the Save icon to
save your changes.
Dynamically referencing files
Before you begin
Important: Use physically embedding instead of
dynamically referencing when:
A template or snippet is designed to extract information from
a data source.
A template or snippet contains a dynamic reference in it.
About this task
When you are selecting files and dynamically referencing
them:
For HTML, XSL-FO, PDF, and Legacy PDF outputs, a link is created
to the file in the Central
Management component.
When the link is clicked from the report, the user must authenticate
with the Central
Management component.
For Microsoft Word
output, an INCLUDE TEXT field is generated with the
link to file in the Central
Management component.
This means that the task of importing the file is delegated to Microsoft Word. An include
file is not visible in the output document until all fields are updated.
To update the fields, use the Update Fields feature in Microsoft Word or use the macros that are
contained in the %RPE_HOME%\utils\word\rpe.dot style
sheet.
Important: Do not run a macro to update the fields
if you are referencing documents from a secured location. The authentication
process cannot be completed and causes the macro to hang.
Procedure
Drag an Include
file element to the template content editor. The Select a file window opens.
Select a .doc, .docx, .txt,
or .rtf file to include:
From the Central
Management component:
Select the Load from library tab.
Expand the library name.
Select a file.
From a local or remote location:
Select the Open local or remote tab.
Click Browse.
Select a file.
Tip: If you find yourself always using the same
tab to choose a file, select the Default to this view when
working with files option. Then the Select a
file window always opens to this tab.
Click OK.
Select the Include file element in
the template content editor.
In the Properties view, select the Specific tab.
In the Including type field, select Dynamic
link to creates a link to the document in its current
location.
Optional: In the Command field,
enter a command that is to be issued during document generation.