Designing Section Templates

In section templates you define how information is displayed in report sections. You define separate section templates for each ALM entity that can be included in report sections. You design section templates using the Template Creator tab in Microsoft Word.

Note: Section templates can be in either a full-page or tabular format. For details, see Guidelines for Creating Full-Page and Tabular Templates.

The following elements are used in section templates:

  • Section Name. A merge field that is replaced in reports by the value of a section's Name field.

  • Section Filter. A merge field that displays the data filter applied to the report section.

  • Entity fields. Merge fields that represent entity field labels and values.

    Note: Date and time fields are formatted using a SHORT DATE/TIME format associated with the locale defined on the ALM server. The report designer cannot change these formats.

  • History. A merge field that inserts history information of the entity record. Use the merge field in full-page templates, within the data area.

  • Graphs. A merge field that inserts graphs that have been added to the report. By default graphs are added to the end of a report.

    Note: You cannot include more than one graph field in the same template.

  • Fixed text. Fixed text that you type in a section template is displayed in reports.

To design a new section template:

  1. Create a new template file using the template creator in Microsoft Word. For details on accessing the template creator, see Template Creator Tab.

  2. Click Template Type, and select a section.

  3. Click Formatting , and select either Full Page or Tabular, to create a full-page or a tabular template.

    The Select Fields dialog box opens.

  4. To include a field in the template, select a field in the Available Fields pane, and click the right arrow .

    Tip: Use the Ctrl or Shift key to select multiple fields.

  5. To remove a field from the template, select a field in Selected Fields pane, and click the left arrow .

  6. To move all fields from one pane to the other, click the double arrows .

  7. Click the Reorder buttons to change the order of fields in the template.

  8. Click Insert. The fields you selected are inserted in full-page or tabular layout.

  9. To include history information of records in a full-page template, place the cursor before the Data End tag, click Insert Field Value , and select History.

    Note: History information is displayed according to the History template assigned to the report.

  10. To include the section name, or details of the section filter, click Insert Field Value , and select Section Name or Section Filter. Make sure these fields are placed outside the data area.

  11. A section template can be used at any level of a report. To ensure that a section header displays in a style appropriate to its level in the report, place the cursor on the Section Name merge field. Make sure the Set Auto Heading Style button is pressed.

  12. To ensure that tables use the uniform table style defined in the Style template, place the cursor in the table area. Make sure the Set Table Style button is pressed.