Creating a document specification

Before documents can be generated, the templates and data sources need to be connected. This connection information is maintained in the document specification file that is stored on your system.

About this task

You can create and edit a document specification file using the stand-alone Launcher or the Launcher embedded in the Document Studio. As part of configuring all properties for a document execution from a document specification, you can provide values for output properties, data sources properties, template properties, and values of variables.

Procedure

  1. Open a document specification by one of the following methods:
    • Click File > Open File.
    • Click File > Open Document Specification.
  2. Browse for the required document specification (.dsx) file and click Open.
  3. Optional: In the Properties tab, enter values for the following:
    1. metadata: Enter a brief description, specify values for data and time patterns, data formatting, and output locales.
    2. output: Enter the location to generate the document. Also select the style sheet for your target output format.
    3. data source: Point to a general data source, which retrieves all the related data within the repository, or you can use filters, which are more specific URIs that retrieve a smaller set of data from the repository.
    4. username and password: You can enter login credentials to access the specified data source. If this document specification is going to be shared with other users, you might want to leave the credentials fields blank. If the credentials are not specified and you try to run a report from the document specification, you are prompted for credentials. If you provide the credentials and try to run the report, the specified credentials are used to access the repository.
    5. variable: Enter the values for the variables to be used when generating the output.
      Note: If a value is not provided for a variable, the default variable value, if any, is used.
  4. Click the Save icon.

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