Create and Edit Customized Report Templates

Each report you generate in Trimble Business Center is based on a predefined report template that defines the type of data included in the report and the layout of that data. Supported template formats include:

DOCX - This is the Microsoft® Word® format (.docx). MS Word version 2010 or later is required to make edits to a report template in this format.
RDLC - This is the client report definition format (.rdlc). An RDLC editing tool is required to make edits to a report template in this format.

Note: You cannot use the cloud-based version of Word in Microsoft® Office 365 to create custom reports.

When creating a report template in either format, you must select the source for the type of data you want to include in the report (for example, the type of data already included in an existing predefined report, such as Baseline Processing) and the report template you want to use to format it.

You have two choices when creating a customized report template:

Create your own template "from scratch" using the DOCX or RDLC format.
Create a template based on an existing DOCX or RDLC template.

To create a custom DOCX report template:

If you are creating a new custom report "from scratch" using an MS Word document (template) you have already created, ensure the template includes an appropriate layout, which typically includes one or more tables with table titles and column headings to support the type of data you want to include.

Select Create Custom Report to display the Create Custom Report dialog.
In the Report name field, enter a unique name for the new report.
In the Description field, enter a brief description of the report.
In the Report source data drop-down list, select the source for the type of data you want to include in the report.
The "source" of the data can be any of the existing predefined default DOCX templates. This allows you to include in your new report any of the data fields currently included in the selected default report.
Click the Browse button located to the right of the Report layout file field. Then select the DOCX template you want to use to create your new report.
By default, the Open dialog displays the content of the C:\ProgramData\Trimble\ReportTemplates folder (in a typical installation), which includes the predefined default DOCX templates provided with Trimble Business Center. If you want to use one of the templates in this folder, select it.
Note: Each of the predefined DOCX default templates provided with TBC in the ...\ReportTemplates folder has already been formatted and populated with data fields based on an existing RDLC template. The default templates are read-only. If you want to customize one of these templates (for example, add or remove fields, or change formatting), you must first save it with a new file name.
If you created a DOCX template from scratch that is located in a different location, navigate to that location and select the file.
You are now ready to edit the selected DOCX template.
Click the Edit Layout button.
The DOCX template you selected is opened in MS Word.
If a message displays indicating the document does not include mapping data, click OK to insert the data.
You cannot add data fields to the template until the field mapping data has been inserted. The mapping data fields display at the end of the document in editing mode. Although they are required to build the report, you can ignore them. They will not display in the report itself.
If you opened a predefined default template, which is read-only, select File > Save As in Word and save the file with a new name.
Modify the report template in MS Word as necessary.
See Customize DOCX Reports for instructions.
When the report template is complete (as described in Customize DOCX Reports), click OK in the Create Custom Report dialog to close the dialog and add the new custom report to the Reports list in the Report Options command pane.
You can select to run the new report in any project. See Run a Report for instructions.

To create a custom RDLC report template:

To create or edit a custom RDLC report template, you must use an appropriate RDLC editor.

Select Report Options to display the Report Options command pane.
In the the Report Options command pane, click the Create New RDLC Report icon located in the command pane toolbar to display the Create New Report dialog.
In the Report name field, enter a unique name for the new report.
In the Description field, enter a brief description of the report.
In the Report source data drop-down list, select the source for the type of data you want to include in the report.
The "source" of the data can be any of the existing predefined default RDLC templates. This allows you to include in your new report any of the data fields currently included in the selected default report.
Click the Browse button located to the right of the Report layout file field. Then select the RDLC template you want to use to create your new report.
By default, the Open dialog displays the content of the C:\Program Files\Trimble\Trimble Business Center\Support\iv folder (in a typical installation), which includes the predefined default RDLC templates provided with Trimble Business Center. If you want to use one of the templates in this folder, select it.
If you created an RDLC template from scratch that is located in a different location, navigate to that location and select the file.
Note: Each of the predefined RDLC default templates in the ...\iv folder has already been formatted and populated with data fields. You can either modify the predefined RDLC template (for example, add or remove fields, or change formatting), or save it with a new name and then make the modifications (recommended).
You are now ready to edit the selected RDLC template.
Click OK.
The new RDLC report is added to the Reports list in the Report Options command pane.
Use an RDLC editor to make changes to the report as necessary.
When the template is complete, you can select to run it in any project. See Run a Report for instructions

To edit or delete a custom report template:

Note: You cannot edit or delete predefined default DOCX and RDLC reports..

Select Report Options to display the Report Options command pane.
Select the custom DOCX or RDLC report template you want to edit or delete.
Do either of the following:
- To edit the custom report template, click the Modify Selected Report icon on the command pane toolbar to display the Edit Custom Report dialog (DOCX report) or Modify Selected Report dialog (RDLC report). Then make changes as described in the previous procedure.
- To delete the custom report template, click the Delete Selected Report button on the command pane toolbar.