📝 What this section covers
This section describes the use of Microsoft Word/Excel to create templates.
It is not a Microsoft Word/Excel tutorial — it assumes moderate to high level of competency in the use of Word/Excel.
The first thing to understand is that the software will use the default report templates created in the CAD software if no Word or Excel template exists.
This is necessary to ensure that existing operators can continue their use of the software without interruption because of the new reporting template options.
At any stage you may decide to use Word or Excel as your template editor and if the software finds a Word or Excel template, that template is used instead of the default CAD template. Over time, the MS Word template may become the preferred option because of the greater flexibility of the design elements that it affords.
🧱 Standard CAD template names (do not change)
The standard CAD template names will be maintained throughout as described below:
Report name | Template name | Intended Use |
Quotation letter | QuotationLetter | A quotation to send to your customer detailing the information as a letter |
Quotation form | QuotationForm | A quotation to send to your customer detailing the information in a tabular fashion |
Quotation acceptance | QuotationAcceptance | Same as above with the addition of a place for the customer to accept the quote with a signature |
Quotation details | QuotationDetails | This report tabulates the materials and costs for the job |
Installer pay summary | PaySummary | This report tabulates the labor costs for you to perhaps give to the installer |
Material cutting list | MaterialCuttingList | This report tabulates the sheet and flashing cutting lists |
User form 1 | UserForm1 | An extra form for you to define |
User form 2 | UserForm2 | An extra form for you to define |
User form 3 | UserForm3 | An extra form for you to define |
User form 4 | UserForm4 | An extra form for you to define |
Order Forms | OrderForm | The Supplier’s Order form. Generated for each supplier in your list of required items |
Tax invoice 1 | TaxInvoice1 | A tax invoice |
Tax invoice 2 | TaxInvoice2 | A tax invoice |
Bill Of Quantities | BillOfQuantities | A Bill Of Quantities report |
Roof Quantities | Roof Quantities | Summary of roof geometry (areas and lengths) and a roof plan |
Do not add new templates or change the order of this list.
If you add new template options, add them below the standard report templates.
💾 Creating and saving Word/Excel templates
The important difference in the process is that you create a report template using Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel that suits your needs.
You will save it as a Word template or Word document and use the default CAD template name and that will be used instead.
Examples:
QuotationDetails will be saved as QuotationDetails.DOT (Word template file) or QuotationDetails.DOC (Word document file), without spaces.
QuotationLetter will be QuotationLetter.DOT, etc.
Most users prefer a *.DOC file because MS Word imposes extra controls on *.DOT files that are not needed and sometimes these get in the way.
If created in Excel:
QuotationDetails.XLT (Excel template file), or
QuotationDetails.XLS (Excel spreadsheet file)
These files must be saved in the:
…\User folder for local use, or
…\Corporate folder for wider company use.
File format requirement: Microsoft Office 1997–2003 compatible, that is, no XLTS or DOCX formats. This ensures backwards compatibility for all users.
🔗 Linking Templates to Output
📄 UserReportNames.csv
You can create other report templates with any name so long as these names are listed in the text files called UserReportNames.csv and UserDrawingNames.csv.
The software needs to know that you have created a new template, what it’s called, and how you wish to refer to it.
UserReportNames.csv is where the preset template names for CAD and Word/Excel Report Templates are associated with the reporting output process.
This allows any template form/report to have any name when displayed in the print options list.
Column A: the name you want shown in the [Print] options list
Column B: the actual file name in the ..\User folder (as viewed in Excel)
Note: The order of these standard reports is set — do not change the order. Also, do not add your new report template names above this standard list. Add them below this list.
🗺️ UserDrawingNames.csv
UserDrawingNames.csv is where the preset template names for both CAD and Word/Excel Drawing Templates are associated with the drawing output process.
This allows any template form to have any name when displayed in the print options list.
Column A: the name you want shown in the Print options list
Column B: the actual file name in the ..\User folder
Column C: the drawing type code number (so the correct information is automatically included for drawing output)
🧰 Adding a new template in Roof Wizard
Once a new template has been created and saved to the …\User folder, it can be added by going to:
Tools > More > Edit User Templates
The complete list of both CAD templates and Word/Excel templates is displayed.
To add your new Word template to the list:
Select Add/Edit (the Edit Report dialog is displayed).
Add the new report name (as you want it to appear in your print options list).
Select the actual template file by selecting the […] button (for Word or Excel) or subfigure name ([Figure] if it is a CAD template).
Select [OK].
Important: Word or Excel templates must be saved as *.doc or *.xls (older format) to ensure backward compatibility, and located in the ../User folder. Do not save in sub-folders, on your desktop, or anywhere else — otherwise the software can’t find them and the reporting process stops.
If it is a drawing template, an extra option is displayed to set what type of drawing output you require.
This sets the drawing annotation that is appropriate for that drawing.
🖼️ Note about images in Excel reports
The insertion of images into Excel reports has been modified to create the bitmap within the Excel file as an independent image, not linked via the original image from the …\User folder.
This prevents the image from being changed and ensures report integrity.