You design a template in the same way that you design a BIRT report. You can also create a BIRT design and save it as a template. The file-name extension for a template file is .rpttemplate. To create globally usable templates, localize the text in the templates as you would in a BIRT design.
This section describes the key steps for creating a template but does not provide information about the report elements you can use in a template. For information about designing BIRT reports and templates, see BIRT: A Field Guide.
How to create a report template
1 To create a new template, in BIRT Designer Professional, in the Report Design perspective, complete the following steps:
1 Choose File➛New➛Template.
2 In New Template—Template:
1 Select the folder in which to create the template file.
2 Specify a file name.
Choose Next.
3 In New Template—Set Template Property:
1 In Display Name, specify a display name for the template.
2 In Description, provide a description of the template.
3 In Template Image, browse to the thumbnail image of the template. This step assumes that you have created the image you want to use as the thumbnail image and placed it in the Shared Resources folder.
Choose Finish. A blank report page appears in the layout editor.
2 From the palette, drag the elements you want to include in the template and drop them in the layout editor.
3 Identify elements that you want to allow Report Studio users to edit as template report items. Only labels and tables can be edited in Report Studio:
1 Right-click the element, then choose Create Template Report Item.
2 Specify a descriptive name for the element, so the Report Studio user can easily identify the purpose of the element.
3 Provide instructions for using the element. The instructions appear in the report item in the template.
Figure 25‑4 shows an example of an element name and instructions for using the element.
Figure 25‑4 Specifying name and instructions for an editable element
4 For elements that you do not want the Report Studio user to edit, also specify a descriptive name. Figure 25‑5 shows setting a label’s name as Copyright.
Figure 25‑5 Specifying a name for a label element that users cannot edit
