NotesToPaper Setup is the part of NotesToPaper that the Notes application developer, respectively the administrator, works with. This part of the product is used to take care of the basic integration of NotesToPaper into a Notes database and is thus referred to as the development environment. The Notes developer uses NotesToPaper Setup to manage all reports and to set the basic report options (administration of reports). In addition, the database developer will define the basic report layout (by using the layout editor) and integrates a report in the Notes application (LotusScript). This integration can then be used by an end-user by means of either NotesToPaper Print (the runtime engine) or the NotesToPaper Viewer (standalone or as a web control). The report template can be edited by an end-user by using the NotesToPaper Designer. In order to be able to develop a basic layout, the license of NotesToPaper Setup includes a license of NotesToPaper Designer.
Report management
The creation and management of the reports is taken care of by means of a separate Windows tool. All report directories, as well as all databases containing integrated NotesToPaper reports, are managed here. The preparation of the applicable Notes application for the NotesToPaper integration is also managed by use of NotesToPaper Setup.
By using NotesToPaper Setup, the basic report options are set:
- Fields/variables
- Description
- Category
- Sort order
- Printer
- Page numbers
The physical design of the reports is accomplished in the NotesToPaper Setup visual layout editor.
Layout Editor (NotesToPaper Designer)
The layout editor is used to define the layout of a report. This editor allows the visual composition of documents by using various objects:
- (RTF-) text objects
- Table objects
- Line-/rectangle objects
- Circle-/ellipsoid objects
- Barcode objects
- Graphics objects
- Chart objects
- HTML pages or code
Each object has a context menu that allows the setting of object properties. These may be font type, font size, font color, border properties, word wrap and many more. The center of the report creation is the table object, which makes summaries and grouping possible. Headers and footers are also possible. A show/hide option can be defined for each object (and field) - objects and fields can be placed on layers, thus allowing dynamic reports. In order to allow for fast report creation, the designer is drag & drop enabled and offers context sensitive menus. The report design is completely visualized, as is Windows standard.
Script integration
NotesToPaper is integrated into a Notes application by means of the new LotusScript commands. A Notes developer may accomplish this via simple scripts behind action buttons or, for extensive integrations, by integrating script libraries. The integration to agents, e. g. for server use, is possible. The database developer will integrate reports directly into the workflow of an application, in order to allow the end-user simple access to this additional functionality.
