Take a few minutes to watch the videos explaining this great new feature.
Default and Custom templates - here
Working with panels - here
Welcome to the all-new Document Templates manager! This is the second version of Document Templates in GeoOp, and represents a large step forward in control over documents for our users. The function of this version has been tailored to cover the broad range of user requirements, whilst being accessible and usable for all. You can access the Document Manager in Settings -> Document Templates.
Summary of Features
- Fully edit the currently provided templates: Quotes, Purchase Orders, Job Sheets
- Create as many new 'custom' templates as required, providing for multiple quote options, forms letters, parts lists for purchase quotes etc.
- Add any combinations of data merge fields and text to create these tailored documents
- Data fields are available from all areas of GeoOp Job info, Clients, Account details, Staff details and Job Charges
- Choose from a range of pre-set data 'panels' to add to documents
- Panel types include text editor, columned blocks, job data tables (charges, parts, time etc), Company logo and Job attachments
- Easily click-drag data fields or table cells into place as required
- Format cells, panels and texts with a range of familiar controls
- Choose from 11 font types
- Fully control date and time display formats
- Preview templates quickly, using a choice of selected Jobs on their account
- Filter all Charge item lists to show combinations of Billable, Quote/Actual or Invoiced data
- Show/hide elements based on data field values
- Attach pictures, PDFs or text notes (word and powerpoint files will not attach)
Intro Video
To view an introductory video on Document Templates, please click here.
Overview
Document templates can be accessed via the Settings menu on the website console. Templates cannot be edited on the mobile apps.
Note: The previous location for Document Templates also contained settings for documents generated via accounting integrations such as Xero. These options can now be found under Settings > Company Account > Invoicing Options, along with all Tax options for GeoOp.
Document Template types
Default Templates
Down the left side of the screen are the 3 template types GeoOp provides as 'Default Templates':
- Quote: Create quotes for your customers using Charge items added to a GeoOp Job
- Purchase Order: A list of Parts added to a Job, used for gaining quotes off suppliers or placing an order
- Job Sheet: A general document of Job details, which could include notes and files added, or a record of Job Status changes made during a Job
Default templates can be modified as you wish via the website console, however cannot be deleted. The 3 defaults can all be accessed currently via the mobile apps, and this is signified by the mobile icon next to the document names. Mobile Workers can then generate documents on a Job using these templates.
Note: Mobile workers cannot currently be blocked from accessing the default templates, however this functionality will be provided in a future release.
Custom Templates
Underneath the defaults is a space for creating 'Custom Templates'. Custom templates can be created by clicking the Add New button. This option is best if you wish to start fresh with a blank template to work on.
However you can also duplicate any existing templates, either a default or another custom one. To do this, simply roll your mouse over the name of the document to view 2 button controls. The minus icon allows you to delete the custom template, the copy icon allows you to create a duplicate of it.
When saved, Custom templates will be added to your list of Job documents that you can create for any Job.
Note: Mobile workers cannot currently access custom templates. Admin control over this functionality will be provided in a future release.
To access your full list of templates for a Job, simply select a Job from the Job List to edit it, then click the Create Document button available at the top-left of the screen.
Working with Templates
Note: Ensure that your browser is not zoomed in or out when modifying documents. This will cause uneven alignment and may cause problems when you attempt to generate the document.
To the right of the screen you will find your template management tabs. These are detailed below.
Panels and Job Tables
Document Templates are made up of combinations of panels and Job tables:
- Panels are section types that have been provided to allow specific functionality on your template, such as advanced text formatting, adding data merge fields, or inserting your company logo into the template
- Tables contain pre-formatted sets of Job data, and are basically a different form of panel. They have been created to allow you add relevant data fields (eg for Job Charges or Parts) quickly and easily to a template, then format, change or remove the data fields within as you wish
Note: Details of each panel or table type are given on screen for your convenience. Further specific details are given below under 'Panel Types'
Both panels and tables can be click-dragged onto a template, then placed above or below other panels or tables as you wish. This allows you to easily build the structure of your template, then reorganise and format things as required.
When you have placed a panel (or table), roll over it with your pointer to see 3 yellow icons at the top left and right of the panel. The icon at the top-left allows you to click-drag the panel and move it to another position on the document. At the top-right you have icons to delete the panel, or to view its settings. Settings will vary depending on the panel type, and key variations are detailed below, under 'Panel Types'
Formatting
The Format tab will display relevant formatting controls depending on what you have selected in the template. If you click into a panel type that uses cells, the controls here will display options for that cell. If you click the Settings icon for a panel or table, the options here will apply to the whole. The controls available allow you to format text across the panel/cell, add borders, colours, padding etc. In some cases, as with the Columned Data Panel, you will also have further options display (such as adding/removing columns, in this case).
Formatting options should be familiar to you, as many of them are the same as you would find in any text editing program.
In addition to these options you also have a tickbox to hide the field if all data fields within have no value. This is especially helpful for quick rolling up of fields to display addresses correctly, and your default templates will be set to do this already.
Note: For more advanced control over hiding fields, see the section on Data Links below
Data: Fields
The Data tab provides all available data merge fields for you to add to your selected panel or table type. To add a field, simply click into a panel or table cell, then click the field name to add it in place.
Fields that have been placed already can then be re-arranged, or moved to other cells. To delete a cell, either back space over it on your keyboard, or click drag it to the red bar to the side of the panel or table.
Important Note: The available list of data fields will change depending on the panel or table selected. This is because some fields are not compatible with the panel or table. For example, Time field are not available to add to a Parts Table. Charge Item fields can only be added to (non-header) rows in releavant tables, as they will need to flow to multiple tables rows (depending on how many charges your Job has).
For example, in all panel types, only summary Charge, Payment and Part data can be added. This is because the item fields need to be placed into a correct table type to display multiple lines. Or, in the tables for Parts, Time etc, only the fields for that Charge type can be provided.
Special Data fields
Certain data fields have option that can be accessed by clicking on them directly:
Data: Links
Also located on the Data tab is a section called Links. Links allow you to select a particular template element and link it a to data merge field (or more than 1, if required). Then, when the document is created, if the values of the data field(s) are empty the element will be hidden.
On the surface this is a similar function to the tickbox option provided on the Format tab. However that option is a quick and easy way of linking a particular cell to the data fields it contains. If a cell solely contains text, clearly this is not an option.
Whereas field linking can take almost any template element:
- panels that accept fields in any way
- table rows
- individual cells within columned blocks, regardless of content
...and allow it to be linked to a value of a field.
Fields can be linked to an element by:
- Selecting the element – either an individual cell or by clicking into the settings of a panel or table;
- Navigating to the Data options for it;
- Finding the data field you wish to link to;
- Clicking the link icon to the left of the field (which shows upon mouse rollover);
- This field will then display in the Links section.
Note: If you apply a link to a single cell within a table, the link will automatically apply the link to the entire row.
Example – To hide an entire Parts table when there are no Parts added to a particular Job, simply roll your mouse pointer over the Parts table, then click the yellow settings icon in the top-right of the panel. If not already visible, click the 'Data' tab on the right panel options. Link the table to the main summary field for Parts data values, which would likely be 'part grandtotal'. Repeat the process for any header text panel. Now, if you create a document on a Job with no Parts at all, this whole table and header will be hidden.
Saving and Previewing your Templates
At the bottom of the screen are further options. The first of these is a quick Preview, to check your template is displaying as required. To help you with this, you have the option of choosing an existing Job to preview the template with. Jobs on this list are chosen to provide a range of possibilities (eg few Charges, lots of Charges, lots of Job attachments, and so on).
Simply select a Job and then click Preview. Your PDF will be generated for you to view (or even print or save, if required).
Clearing and Resetting Templates
After working on a template, the template's name will display yellow in the left-hand menu to show it has been edited. Ensure you save your changes after working on a template.
Moving your mouse over the template name will bring up a gear icon, which will open up the template settings on the right, if you click on it.
The Clear button will wipe all content from the template so should be used with caution. The Reset button will revert the template back to the GeoOp default (for Default Templates only).
Panel Types
There are a number of different panel and tables types. Basic details of each type and its purpose are given on-screen in the website console. However, further settings, behavioural details and usage pointers on some key panels are given below:
Text Editor
- This panel allows advance text formatting, as you would be familiar with in a program like Microsoft Word, or in the last version of GeoOp's Document Templates
- Text within the panel can be formatting as required, lists and bullet points can be added etc
- This panel type cannot accept data merge fields
Important Note: When the Text Editor is selected, the formatting options for its contents are provided directly above the panel for easy access. However in the Format tab to the right you will also see further format options. As with other panel types, these options are strictly for the entire selected item, in this case the panel. Any options chosen here will apply accordingly and so should be used with care.
Columned Data Panel
- Columns can be added/removed by bringing up the panel's format settings
- Columns can be re-sized by click-dragging on the dividing line between them
- Cells within the panel can be moved to a new location by click-dragging on the left icon visible on rollover
- Cells can be deleted by clicking the 'minus' icon visible on rollover
- Cells can be inserted below the current one, by clicking the 'plus' icon visible on rollover
- Cell height will be adjusted independently according to the text size within, and will not affect the row heights of other columns to the left/right
Table
- Row heights will be kept consistent across all columns
- Add and delete icons will affect rows and columns, inserting to the right or below
- Click-dragging to move will move the entire row or column
Company Logo
- If your own company logo has not been uploaded in Settings > Company Account, then a GeoOp one will display as an example only. It will not display on any documents generated
- Logos can be left, right or centre-aligned on the page only, via the format settings for that panel
- Logos can be re-sized as required, by click-dragging the left or right borders of the image
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