Document Templates

Document Templates are an important part of the Office Productivity Connector, helping an organization create documents that follow a standard approach. Responsibility for creating templates can exist throughout the organization, including administrators, document control staff, and end users. This section explains how to create Document Templates in Aras Innovator for use by the Office Productivity Connector.

A Document Template in Aras is just a regular Document with the Template checkbox checked. It contains an Office file used as the basis of any new file created from the template. The Office file used for the template should be in a regular file format (like .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx). There are two methods for creating Document Templates: manually in the Aras web client or by marking a Document created by the Aras Office Connector as a template. Either method requires some work in the Aras web client. It is not possible to create a template completely using the Office Productivity Connector.

1. Create the template file in the Office application and save it locally.
   1. Log in to the Aras web client.
   2. Create a new Document (or similar item defined as an Office Document Type).
   3. Set the following properties:
      • Number
      • Type
      • Authoring Tool
      • Template checkbox ON
   4. Attach the template file on the Files tab.
   5. Save and Close the Document.

1. Create a Document using the Connector with one of the following approaches:
   • Use New Aras Document to create a new file, create the file contents, thenSave.
   • Create the file contents locally, then Save.
2. Log in to the Aras web client.
   1. Search for the newly created Document and open the form.
   2. Set the Template checkbox ON.
   3. Remove any viewable file, such as PDF, if it exists.
   4. Save and Close the Document.

At this point, the template is ready to be used by the Office Productivity Connector. Regardless of the method used, the result is a Document that has the following key properties set:

These properties are used for the following purposes:

• Document Number: The primary identifier for the template which appears in the Properties task pane.
• Type: Sets which Document Type the template is for. The template will only be listed when that Document Type is selected in the New Aras Document task pane.
• Authoring Tool: Controls which Office application the template will be used for. The template will only appear in the New Aras Document task pane when in that application.
• Template: Marks this Document as a template.
• File: The file used when creating a New Aras Document using this template.