Microsoft Excel devices

You can define devices to print reports to an MS Excel spreadsheet.

Note: Printing reports to an MS Excel device is not supported in Worktop.

Defining a Microsoft Excel device

To create a Microsoft Excel device:

  1. Start the Device Data (ttaad3500m000) session.
  2. Add a device. The Device Data (ttaad3100s000) session starts.
  3. Complete these steps:
    1. Specify the name and description for the device.
    2. In the Device Type field, select External Reporting Services .
    3. Leave the 4GL Program empty.
    4. In the Argument field, specify -excel, optionally followed by other parameters. For example:

      • -excel

        Print the data to an Excel file. The file is stored in a folder on your computer. This folder is specified in the Path field. The file name has this format: [report name]_[company number]_[yyyymmdd-hhmmss].xlsx

        This is a sample file name: ttaad340001000_000_20130626-202842.xlsx

      • -excel -open

        Similar to -excel. The Excel file is automatically opened.

      • -excel -nodatetimestamp

        Similar to -excel. The Excel file has no date- and timestamp.

        The file name has this format: [report name]_[company number].xlsx

        This is a sample file name: ttaad340001000_000.xlsx

      • -excel -server

        Similar to -excel. The file is stored in a folder on the server. This folder is specified in the Path field.

    5. In the Path field, specify the folder where the Excel file is stored.

      Note: 
      • If you use the -server option in the Argument field, specify a folder on the LN server. For example, /home/jdoe/tmp (Unix).
      • If you do not use the -server option in the Argument field, specify a folder on your computer. For example, c:\temp.
      • If you use LN UI, the Excel file cannot be copied to your client computer. In that case, the file is transferred through a download action.
    6. Specify the remaining device properties and save the device. For details, see the online help of the Device Data (ttaad3100s000) session.

Printing reports to a Microsoft Excel device

To print a report to a Microsoft Excel device:

  1. Start the print session to which the report is linked.

  2. Print the report.

    Points of attention:

    • In the Device tab in the print session, select Advanced Device.
    • In the Printer tab in the Select Device (ttstpsplopen ) session, select the Microsoft Excel device.

    A flat file with all input fields of the report is generated.