[sims] Idiot's guide to report templates?

[ICTLady]

I seem to be missing something in editing reports on SIMS.

 

We have numerous pre-existing reports that I need to edit (because we have a new school logo - joy). They use Form Report (RTF) user-defined templates.

 

I find the report I want to edit and save it with a new name. Go to the Default Output page and click on the “Edit” button to open the template. It opens in Word with the title “Reports temporary workfile.doc” . Make changes. Save the word document and close it. Save the report template.

 

This isn’t working, because when I run the report it still uses the old un-edited template.

 

Obviously I am missing something fundamental here - can anyone explain to me how these elements fit together and how to edit my reports before I tear out *all* of my hair?

 

Thank you

[vikpaw]

There is a guide somewhere but it's not great and this is a tricky science.

Try closing the report browser after the save as and open fresh.

Sometimes it's better to save as the template then re-add to the new copy of report.

There is a quick ref guide to RTF reports in documentation or I can upload it here tomoz if its not already in another one.

[vikpaw]

Ooh tip to save your life. Export each report individually with template before you start messing. So you can fall back when all templates break.

[neilenormal]

Is there a tab in Word called Add-ins along the top ribbon. If there is there should be a close and save button there. Use this rather than file, save and file, close

Neilenormal

[vikpaw]

You used to need macro security lowered for it to appear.

[ICTLady]

Thank you both for your expertise! The "Save and Close" on the Add-Ins tab appears to have done the trick. Just waiting to hear whether it works OK for colleagues and not just me

@vikpaw, I couldn't find the document you mentioned, I'd certainly be interested in seeing it if possible. Thanks.

[vikpaw]

Two very useful threads here, the first has a tip on not losing settings but it may not work now, and the document is in the second - both good reads as well.

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/66544-creating-custom-rtf-reports.html

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/44356-making-your-own-data-collection-sheets-sims.html

 

my data collection sheet was uploaded to supportnet ages ago. i think the discussion on cloning reports was on there too, but it's got better since then and you've got that working okay now.