Users can build up their own documents dynamically which can then be used as reports, letters, orders, requests or a myriad of other uses.
How it works
1. Create a layout document. This is simply a normal word processing document created with any application such as Microsoft Word or Databuild's own inbuilt word processor. This document may contain formatted text, images, headers, footers, text frames and objects such as spreadsheets, video clips or music.
2. Insert Special Fields into the document
3. Enter the required module ( Jobs, Contacts, Suppliers etc), the select the rows that you want to process.
4. In the Custom Reports tab, select the required layout file (these are maintained in Layout Files), then press the report button 
5. The system makes a copy of the layout file for each selected row, then replaces each Special Field with the relevant value. The name and location of the file is determined by the settings in Layout Files
The completed documents can be viewed, printed, combined into a single document or deleted
Databuild contains 2 powerful editors to allow you to setup your own report formats and content.
These layout are used in various parts of the system:
| • | Databuild Cheques, Remittances, Claims, Variations, Quotes, Jobs, Contacts, Suppliers |
| • | Front End Proposals, Contracts, Brochures |
| • | Job Control Can Do documents and Emails |
Some parts of the system, and business do not lend themselves to rigidly formatted reports. Cheques, Remittances, Proposals etc tend to vary widely from user to user.
To overcome this, those parts of the system use user-definable reports where the layout and contents can be edited using the Layout Editor.
You will need to nominate a layout file before obtaining a report. Sample report layouts are loaded into the Sample Date folder during installation. Use these as a basis for your layouts.
There are 2 types of custom report formats supported:
| • | Fixed Position where pictures and blocks of text are set in specific positions on the page. This format suits situations such as cheque printing where position is everything. |
| • | Rich Text Format which is based on standard word processing formats, and is suitable for multi-page documents. RTF documents can be edited with any word processor, including Databuild's in-built word processor. Reports can then be run on any selected jobs, contacts or suppliers. This is very useful for mail merge type reports |
Command buttons let you select a layout file, Load the Layout Editor to create or edit the file, and to process the report(s)
Optionally, the created reports can be saved as documents for later retreival. The file name is built up from
{Folder} + {Prefix} + {Record Code} + {Counter} + {Extension}
e.g. "f:\mydocuments\" + "Jobs" + "001" + ".pdf" = "f:\mydocuments\Jobs001.pdf"
Prefix may include one sub folder which will created as required. Additionally, "[Code]" within the prefix (or document folder) is replaced by the relevant code. If the Custom Layout Files has the "Use Counter" column set, the system inserts a counter "001", "002", "003" etc to ensure unique filenames.