Creating a new template or editing/copying an existing template

Perform these steps to create a new template or edit/copy an existing template:
Note: When you create a template, you must specify two different formats:
  • The format which you want to use in Excel (The formats you set within the Excel template)
  • The formats for the data within the M3 table (System Data Format)
  1. If you have not already done so, open the program for which you want to send data to Excel.
  2. Click Tools > Export to Excel > Templates Manager.
  3. If the program has some columns that contain dates, you will be prompted to select how the dates within M3 are set up. Select the correct date format for each column and click OK.
  4. Select whether you want to create a new template, edit an existing template, or copy an existing template.
  5. Specify a template name and description. Name is required if you want to save your template.
  6. Click the header in each column. You will be prompted to select the Column Format for each one. Verify that the Data Format for each column is correct, otherwise, you need to correct it.
    Note: When a format is incorrect, it is probable that the System Data Format is also incorrect, so you also need to verify the system Data format.

    If any column shows data as ???, you must change the data format in the System Data Format. See Updating system data format. If the System Data Format is correctly set up, change the template data format.

    You can apply these format options to the template. Some of the options are available in the context menu which is opened by right-clicking a column header.

    • Rename: If you want a different name for the column in Excel, right-click in the column and then select Rename. Specify the name you want to appear in Excel.
    • Split Column: If you want the column to appear in two columns, specify which separators to use. This can be used to split a column that contains both credit and debit values so that you will export credit values in one column and debit values in the other.
    • Delete: If you do not want the column to appear in the Excel file, click in the column and then select Delete.
      Note: You cannot revert this action, use hide/show instead.
    • Hide/show: You can choose to hide or show columns by clicking the arrow next to the preview and selecting only the columns that you want to show.
    • Data Format: Number, Text/General, Data
    • Vertical Alignment: Top, Center, Bottom
    • Horizontal Alignment: Left, Center, Right
    • Reordering columns are done by dragging a column in its header and dropping it where you want to place it.
    • Depending on which Data Format you use, you will also have the possibility to specify related formats.
  7. If something looks strange in the preview when you have verified that all data formats in the template are correct, you should check the System Data Format.
  8. If you want to save the template before exporting, click Save Template to save the template to the Template Manager. This will also make the template visible directly in the Export to Excel menu.
  9. Click Export. These steps are equal to steps 5-8 in Export to Excel.
  10. In the Export to Excel dialog box, select Export currently selected rows or Export All Rows.

    Export currently selected rows sends only those rows that you have selected in your view. Export All Rows sends the entire view for a maximum of 9999 records.

  11. If you have created conditional styles for this program and want them to be included in the Excel spreadsheet, click Include conditional styles.
  12. If you want to use an Excel template you created, select the Use Excel template check box, then browse for your template.
    Note: An Excel template is not the same as an export template.
  13. Click Export.