Tutorial 1

In this tutorial you will learn how to merge data from an Excel sheet into an income tax form.

Step 1:

Create a new, empty project

Step 2:

Add an Output document

Once you add an output document, choose how you want to deliver it on the right side of the window. The default setting is ‘Save to disk’, but there are other options such as ‘email as attachment’ and ‘send to printer’. When you have selected the output method, set the required options in the window below. For 'Save to file', you choose the base folder of your project, the name of the output document(s) and whether you want to overwrite existing files(recommended to avoid errors with consecutive merges).

Step 3:

Add pages

The Add pages wizard helps you add pages to your document. In this tutorial, we will be working with an existing PDF. Choose the document you want to work with(In this case, the income tax form). Next, choose the pages you want to work with. If you need all pages, accept the defaults. Select the page to view its properties. A plus (+) in front of the page indicates fields which are currently not visible. Click + to expand the page and see what fields it contains.

Step 4:

Add a database

Make sure to add the database right under the project. This way you will create a document for every row in the Excel sheet.

In the properties, set the data source type to 'Excel sheet' and choose the sheet you want to use.

In the Selection area, keep the 'Select a table' option and select the sheet from your Excel file. If you want to see the data from the file, click on the preview button.

Note: if you first add an output document and then a database, change the name of the output document so that the previously created documents do not get overwritten. To do this, add the following expression after the document name: $[name of your database:#].

Step 4:

Merge data with fields

To fill in the form, you need to merge the data from the database with the fields on the form. Select the corresponding field, then go to the 'Field binding' tab and type an expression. This expression works as follows: first, type a $ (dollar sign), then choose the database. Next, type a : (colon) and choose the corresponding column from the Excel sheet. The finished expression should look something like this: $[database:column name].

In a similar manner, you can add other expressions to the tab. For example, you can print the date and time in a particular field by adding the expression ' The date and time are { DateTime.Now } ' (without the quotes). See Using expressions for other examples.

Step 6:

Add parameters

You can fill forms for multiple Excel files using parameters. To do this, go back to the project and select the 'Input parameters' tab.

Here you can create a new parameter:

Give the parameter a name and check the required fields, such as Required if your parameter is required to merge the project or Prompt interactive mode if you want variaDoc to ask you for the parameter before merging the project. Lastly, give your parameter a default value - one of the Excel files you want to use. \

Step 7:

Using parameters

To use the parameter in this project you need to add the parameter to the Excel sheet location.

Enter the parameter as the file name and indicate which Excel sheet should be used.

You can use the parameter to indicate where you want to save all the created documents. The folder will be named after the Excel sheet you used. To do this, you need to add the parameter to the folder location, in much the same way as you did above:

Step 8:

Adding new fields

To add a new field, select the page in the merge tree and click Field > Text field in the Insert toolbar.

The variaDoc assistant appears informing you that you should select the region on the page preview where the new fields should be placed.

Place the mouse at the top-left corner of the region where the new field should be placed, click and drag to the bottom-right corner.

The new field is now created and added to the page node:

The field can be moved or re-sized and edited at any point.

You can now merge the project to see your results using the large green merge button.