Cost module - using Excel files as Templates

[ed.bellman]

Is there a trick I'm missing for creating Excel template files for Cost Contracts?

These two files have the same variables (actually the Word doc has more) but the Excel doc always gives an error message about the variables.

There is nothing in the documentation about Excel files specifically so I'm not sure what the issue might be. I have tried the following with no luck:

• Removed multiple variables from a single cell (e.g. the City, State Zip address line)
• Made sure no variables are in a merged cell(s)
• Made sure no variables are in a cell with any other text (e.g. "{contractor.name} Signature" )

Thanks, Ed

[Jason_Kai_Jiang]

Hi @ed.bellman,

Sorry for the inconvenience. Could you please share the spreadsheet template through a private message?

We are brainstorming how to improve the error message after uploading templates to admin setting GUI. Your feedback is highly appreciated.

Thanks and best regards,

[ed.bellman]

@Jason_Kai_Jiang , no problem, glad to help. I replied to your PM.

Ed

[Jason_Kai_Jiang]

Hi @ed.bellman,

The contract spreadsheet template is not supported yet. The variable {@contract.scopeOfWork} on the spreadsheet causes the verification error because it represents rich text.

Workaround:

Copy rich-text SOW to a non-rich-text custom attribute.

1. Define a custom attribute with multi-lines and not rich-text type. For example, the name of the text attribute is "ScopeOfWork".
2. Manually copy and paste the SOW to the custom attribute.

3. Refer to the custom attribute on the spreadsheet template. {contract.properties.ScopeOfWork} 

I will brainstorm with the engineering team how to export rich text in a spreadsheet template. 

Could you please kindly share with us why you would like to use a spreadsheet template rather than a word template?

Thanks and best regards, 

[ed.bellman]

Thanks Jason, I will try the workaround just to see how it goes.

I am attempting to use a spreadsheet for two reasons - 

1. Our existing purchase order template is an Excel document
2. While the Create Document Templates documentation page is silent on Excel support, the Template edit/upload screen clearly states .XLSX files are supported - "Only Microsoft Word (.docx) or Excel (.xlsx) files are supported."

That said, if I have to go through the trouble of converting our template to Word I suppose I will. However, I'd rather a note or condition be added along the lines of "Excel (.xlsx) based templates do not support variables with rich text formatting and any such variables will be merged as plain text." if RTF support isn't feasible in Excel and the inline convert-to-plain text is possible from your end.

Thanks for looking into this!

Ed

[ed.bellman]

@Jason_Kai_Jiang , also, if I could ask one other quick question.

Continuing with variables, Contracts, and templates, what is the difference between contract.recipient.name and contract.supplier.name? If I am creating a purchase order for materials, would both variables return the same? If not how or when is a supplier defined?

Thanks!

EDIT - Sorry, I think it I got it - "contract.recipient" is the Contract's designated Supplier Contact and "contract.supplier" is the Contract's designated Supplier/company. Correct?

[Jason_Kai_Jiang · Accepted solution]

Hi @ed.bellman,

Yes, your understanding of recipient and supplier is correct.

We will remove the spreadsheet-related sentence from the modules' setting GUIs that do not fully support the spreadsheet templates yet.

Thanks and best regards,