Making WorkFlows XML Report Output Work For You
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The document discusses the benefits and methods for utilizing XML report output with XSLT stylesheets in the Symphony system for library reports. It outlines the process of creating custom XSLT stylesheets to enhance XML data presentation and includes steps for accessing and formatting XML report output. Key points include the identification of desired data columns, transformation of XML using XSLT, and the optional upload of the stylesheet to the server for streamlined reporting.
![5. Create XSLT Stylesheet
Name <node3></node3>
Container for each type of data, like an Excel column
Use tag names that you see in XML (e.g., <userID>)
Repeat and name as many times as needed
Supply the path for each <xsl:value-of> select
attribute
Path is the XML node or node set containing the data
Include attributes as needed [@name="value"]
Like an Excel cell
Examples:](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/makingworkflowsxmlreportoutputworkforyou-151123160519-lva1-app6891/85/Making-WorkFlows-XML-Report-Output-Work-For-You-19-320.jpg)
Making WorkFlows XML Report Output Work For You
- 1. Making WorkFlows XML Report Output Work for You LUC 2015 October 7-8, 2015 Natalie Palermo LSU Law Center Library
- 2. Agenda Attribution Background Benefits of XML report output Drawbacks of XML report output in Excel Solution: XSLT stylesheet Create your own XSLT stylesheet Q & A
- 3. Attribution This presentation made possible with information posted to the SirsiDynix Symphony System-Admin discussion list by: Philip Gunderson, San Diego Central Library pgunderson@sandiego.gov
- 4. Background XML Extensible Markup Language Markup language much like HMTL Designed to store and transport data Symphony 3.4 introduced XML output to some reports Using certain print tools (e.g., prtuser) Come with default stylesheets Stylesheet name is the name of the print tool (e.g., prtuser.xsl) Custom stylesheets can be created and uploaded to the server Symphony 3.5 Over 100 reports with XML output
- 5. Benefits of WF XML Report Output Often more useful than delivered report output Can get custom output without a custom report Can be exported to 3rd party programs (e.g., Excel)
- 6. Drawbacks of XML Report Output in Excel Unnecessary columns Multiple rows Ambiguous column labels
- 7. Solution: XSLT Stylesheet XSL = Extensible Stylesheet Language Stylesheet language for XML documents XSLT = Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations Stylesheet language for transforming XML documents XSLT stylesheet Expression of a transformation in XSLT Knowledge of XML and XSLT is not really necessary You will need: XML report output from Symphony Text editor that can format and indent XML Notepad++ with the XML Tools plugin used for this presentation XSLT stylesheet template
- 8. Create Your Own XSLT Stylesheet 1. Identify wanted columns from XML report output 2. Get XML report output from WorkFlows 3. Format XML report output 4. Identify nodes in XML report output 5. Create XSLT stylesheet 6. Link XSLT stylesheet to XML report output 7. Open XML report output in Excel 8. Upload stylesheet to Symphony (optional)
- 9. 1. Identify Wanted Columns from XML Output View finished report with XML output in Excel Reminder: uncheck view log Note the column headings you want
- 10. 2. Get XML Report Output from WorkFlows View finished report (without log and style sheet) If application to view XML reports is Excel: Remove Excel as the application to view XML reports in Report Session settings (remember not to save properties) Save the XML file in the same directory with your XSLT template
- 11. 3. Format XML Report Output Open file in Notepad++ Click Plugins from the menu Click XML Tools Click Pretty print (XML only -- with line breaks)
- 12. Nicely Formatted XML Report Output
- 13. Closer Look Each user’s output includes: userID, name, library, address1, address2, address3, and note extended info
- 14. 4. Identify Nodes in XML Report Output Follow the indented hierarchy of each <tag></tag> pair Each <tag></tag> pair represents a node Ignore the following tags: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <title></title> <dateCreated></dateCreated> <dateFormat></dateFormat> <report></report> is always the highest node in the hierarchy of WF XML report output A node set is a set of nodes (node within a node)
- 15. 4. Identify Nodes in XML Report Output
- 16. 5. Create XSLT Stylesheet Start with: Top four lines mean: This is an XML document This is an XSLT stylesheet The output will be XML, indented according to its hierarchy The rules to follow will be applied to specified node set
- 17. 5. Create XSLT Stylesheet Name <node1></node1> Container for our output, like an Excel spreadsheet name Our example: <users></users> Supply the path for <xsl:for-each> select attribute <xsl:for-each> represents a loop Path is the highest XML node set that includes the data we want included in our output Our example: <xsl:for-each select="report/user"> Name <node2></node2> Container for each record, like an Excel row Our example: <userline></userline>
- 18. 5. Create XSLT Stylesheet
- 19. 5. Create XSLT Stylesheet Name <node3></node3> Container for each type of data, like an Excel column Use tag names that you see in XML (e.g., <userID>) Repeat and name as many times as needed Supply the path for each <xsl:value-of> select attribute Path is the XML node or node set containing the data Include attributes as needed [@name="value"] Like an Excel cell Examples:
- 20. 5. Create XSLT Stylesheet Extended info in <node3></node3> 1st instance only Supply the path for <xsl:value-of> select attribute All instances Supply <xsl:for-each> loop within the main <xsl:for-each> loop
- 21. 5. Create XSLT Stylesheet Save stylesheet with a new name (e.g., listusers.xsl)
- 22. 6. Link XSLT Stylesheet to XML Report Output Add the following as line 2 to the XML report output <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="stylesheet.xsl"?> stylesheet.xsl is the name of your XSLT stylesheet Our example: <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="listusers.xsl"?> Save your XML report output
- 23. XML and XSLT Stylesheet Side-by-Side Note: this stylesheet excludes displayName, library, address2, and address3 from original XML output
- 24. 7. Open XML Report Output in Excel Open Excel Click File tab Click Open Navigate to XML file and click Open Click 2nd radio button option in Import XML dialog XSLT stylesheet will be selected Click OK Click Yes to open file (ignore different format message) Click OK to open file as an XML table Click OK (ignore message about schema)
- 25. Your XSLT Stylesheet Works!!!
- 26. 8. Upload Stylesheet to Symphony (Optional) Once your stylesheet is complete, it is ready for uploading to the Symphony server Allows you to select the stylesheet when the report is run Eliminates the need to link the XSLT stylesheet to the XML Open a Footprints to request the upload Specify the default stylesheet upon which your custom stylesheet was created Stylesheet will be uploaded to the directory for that print tool Limits availability of stylesheet to reports using the same print tool listusers.xsl would not be available for List Bibliography report Now, select your custom XSLT stylesheet when running the report and opening the XML output in
- 27. Q & A
- 28. Contact Information Natalie Palermo LSU Law Center Library (225) 578-6530 natalie.palermo@law.lsu.edu