Format Tools

The Convert Recordset to XML Tool allows the conversion of one or more flat-structure BPA Platform recordsets into a hierarchical XML structure. This way, it is used to provide “translation services” between the standard BPA Platform tools, such as Database Query (ODBC), and advanced BPA Platform tools that accept XML as their input.

The Convert XML to Recordset tool is used to convert XML data into a flat-format BPA Platform recordset, allowing the data to be used by recordset-only consuming tools. This could then be used to power alerts via fax, email, or SMS, create reports, power a workflow, perform FTP transfer, and so on.

The Create Workflow Job Tool is used to create a Task Step that dynamically creates Workflow Jobs. A Workflow Job Step dynamically generates one or any number of web page(s) containing fields for completion by recipients and publishes them to a website folder on a specified web server. Each of these web pages is called a Workflow Job and can be assigned for completion to any number of recipients.

The Format as Flat File tool takes a BPA Platform recordset and converts it into a flat file to be used by another task step or external program. The flat file output can be delimited or fixed width. You can also choose whether the flat file contains data for single or multiple record types.

The Format as HTML Pro tool is used to create a task step that produces single or multiple HTML documents. You can choose to create the HTML template from scratch or import a pre-existing template. Recordsets and other task step properties can also be used to populate the HTML template to produce dynamic content documents. These documents can then be consumed and then delivered by Output or Execute task steps.

The Format as HTML tool is used to create a task step that produces single or multiple HTML documents. You can choose to create the HTML template from scratch or import a pre-existing template. Recordsets and other task step properties can also be used to populate the HTML template to produce dynamic content documents. These documents can then be consumed and then delivered by Output or Execute task steps.

The Format as Text tool creates single or multiple text documents, using information provided by Input tools such as the Database Query (ODBC) tool. It requires no global settings. If required, you can produce dynamic documents such as, alerts and notifications, or data formats such as .CSV for spreadsheets or uploading to other systems. Drag-and-drop recordset columns, variables, and properties from the Task Browser to achieve this.

The Run Crystal Report tool automates the execution of SAP® Crystal Reports®. Recordsets and variables from other task steps can be consumed to dynamically populate the report at runtime. In addition, where the report requires access to a database, security credentials can be passed from in the Run Crystal Report step.

The Run Microsoft Reporting Services tool automates the running of Microsoft Reporting Services (MSRS) reports.

The Run Microsoft Word (Merge) Tool is used to create a task step that creates single or multiple documents in common Microsoft Word formats containing merged data.

The Run Sage 50 & 200 Report tool automates the running of reports in BPA Platform, from either Sage 50 Accounts or Sage 200’s Sage Report Designer.

Transform Data is a Format tool that enables a new structure to be created from an existing XML or recordset data source. The output generated by this tool is ready for use in a destination system which consumes or requires XML.