The Design Process

minusStep 1: Create Overlays (page templates)

As a matter of practice and procedure... it is a good idea to begin the "design" process by creating needed Overlays.

Think about the overall picture and what is being accomplished. For example, if you have a multi-page document then you'll, most generally, want to create an overlay (template) for each page.
Furthermore, it is a good practice to create a generic (or blank) overlay in order that an undesirable overlay isn't applied to a form / page that is not defined to a "specific" overlay.

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How do I create an overlay(s)?

1.Select Overlays from the lower-left menu in the AutoDocs™ interface.

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2.Right-click on the Project Name in the top-left of the AutoDocs™ interface.

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3.Define an Overlay Name, Overlay Size, and define the page types / conditions this particular Overlay will be applied to.
oSince this particular Overlay will apply to the very first page of each document in the set ...we'll name it Pg1 and select First Page as the document page to apply to.
oWhen you click OK you'll see the named Overlay appear within the left-side Overlays menu.

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4.Overlay Identification defines the particular criteria by which the "elements" on an overlay are selected / identified.
oAutoDocs™ is very straight-forward in its methodology of "gathering" data from files. It uses a standard Line, Column, Length methodology to "pick up" data.
NOTE:  AutoDocs™ is zero-based in these methods. When making those determinations ...always start counting at 0 (zero).

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minusStep 2: Create Datasets
1.Select Datasets from the lower-left menu.
2.To select a particular section of data by which to determine each account  / document Click+Drag over the <Account Hdr> text on the Designer Data form.datasets1
3.Once you've high-lighted the data for which you wish to determine each new document Right+Click and select Create Text Designer Snippet.

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4.Based on the Text Snippet created you can define that snippet of data. Give it a name, which Overlay it will apply to (Apply to Dataset), etc. As you've performed step 2 above you'll notice that the Start Column and End Column are populated. AutoDocs™ always starts with a base of 0 (zero) when counting lines or columns (rows). You'll use this data to distinguish between documents for future files of this particular type.

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oRepeat this for other Text Snippets you wish to apply to Datasets. In the example below, I picked up the block of data which contains the Date, Page number, Acct #, and Enclosures. We'll use that later to apply to the Designer Canvas; where we actually design the layout of the form to be printed.

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Creating 'Tables' within AutoDocs™

oTo create a table, first you must create a text snippet. Then you will drag the snippet onto the Designer Canvas.

   A box appears and you can choose table from the list. Click OK.

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oTable data

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oUnder Sample Data highlight the text to select. Click Save to add that information as a data row.

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oTable Formatting

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