Printing is an area of Ultimate Forms that offers a range of possibilities, many of which remain untapped. Whether you're looking for advanced formatting, batch processing, or automated scheduling, Ultimate Forms provides a wealth of printing features to enhance your workflow.
Customized PDF output can be automatically generated to accommodate precise requirements, ensuring that your documents meet business needs with minimal effort. If you've only used print-related functionality sparingly, there's a great deal that you might have missed. Let's explore some of the lesser-known but powerful print capabilities available in Ultimate Forms.
Use CSS Styling for Print Templates
Although it might not be immediately obvious, you can control your print templates using CSS styling. This allows you to achieve a professional and customized look that aligns with your brand or business needs.
To get started, you can use the developer toolbar in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to inspect the HTML and related CSS classes in the print template screen. Follow these steps:
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From the list view, select an item and open the Infowise Print dialog.
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Press F12 to open the developer toolbar.
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Click on sections of the output in the print preview screen to help identify the elements and class references.
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In the Infowise Print Templates, navigate to the Display Settings section.
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Enter your own CSS to modify the look of the output to suit your preferences.
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Continue making tweaks until you get the desired results.
By using CSS, you gain the flexibility to adjust fonts, colors, spacing, and even hide or show elements dynamically to create a polished and functional print output.
Advanced Print Template Formatting
If basic formatting is not sufficient for your needs, Advanced Edit Mode allows you to build highly customized print output to match precise business requirements. By leveraging nested HTML tables and custom styling, you can structure your document in a way that suits your workflow.
For instance, you can:
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Create structured tables that organize information efficiently.
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Apply custom colors and branding elements.
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Control how different sections of data are presented in the final PDF.
To assist with this, Infowise offers a mini-guide to help you learn how to implement advanced formatting techniques. You can access it here: Advanced Print Formatting Guide.
Word Template
You can use a Word document as a template for printing. Simply create an Word document and enter the SharePoint list column names surrounded by double square brackets. The Print module will replace those with actual values at runtime. For example, to include the Title column, simply type [[Title]].
Once your document is ready, upload it to the Word section of the print template. It will then be used when printing to PDF or Word. You will be happy to know that all column types are supported, including both built-in columns and special Infowise columns.
Batch Printing of Item Print Templates
Batch printing is another powerful feature that can significantly streamline document generation. Instead of printing individual records one at a time, you can consolidate multiple records into a single PDF file using Infowise Actions. This is particularly useful when dealing with large datasets or when generating reports that need to include multiple entries.
To set up batch printing:
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Create a new Infowise Action using the "Print list items" action type.
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In the first tab "General", unselect all options under Run on events to ensure manual execution.
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Below it, select Manual Execution.
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In the third tab "Action", configure the filter settings to select a set of records (e.g., "Created greater or equals 1/1/2025").
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Choose your print template and set the target output (email is a good option to start with).
This method allows you to generate bulk PDFs quickly and efficiently, reducing the time spent on manual printing tasks.
Timer-Based Reporting
Do you have reports that need to be generated regularly? With Ultimate Forms, you can set up automated actions to generate and store reports at scheduled intervals. This feature is excellent for maintaining a historical record of your data at different points in time, such as weekly, monthly, or quarterly summaries.
To set up a timed action:
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Create an Infowise Action using the "Print list items" action type.
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In the first tab, check Timer Based only for the Run on events options.
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Choose a schedule (e.g., every Sunday at 10 PM).
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In the third tab, select Document Library as the print target and choose the appropriate SharePoint library.
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Include a date parameter in the file name to ensure uniqueness (e.g., "your-company-name-timesheet-[Today]").
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Add a validation condition such as "ID always not equals 0" to meet the system requirements.
With this setup, reports will be automatically generated and stored without manual intervention, keeping your data organized and accessible.
Additional Features to Explore
Beyond the primary printing functionalities, Ultimate Forms offers a range of additional features that can be leveraged to further enhance document generation and management:
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Conditional Formatting: Apply conditional formatting rules to highlight specific data points.
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Dynamic Content: Use formulas and dynamic fields to generate content on-the-fly.
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Integration with Workflows: Combine printing functions with workflow automation to trigger document generation based on events.
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Multi-Language Support: Create templates that accommodate multiple languages for international teams.
Why Explore Ultimate Forms Printing Features?
There is a surprising amount of versatility in Ultimate Forms' print output capabilities. Whether you need batch processing, automated scheduling, or advanced customization, these features can help streamline your workflow and improve efficiency.
By incorporating these printing functions into your next project, you can:
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Save time by automating repetitive tasks.
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Ensure consistency in document formatting.
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Enhance reporting accuracy with scheduled report generation.
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Improve user experience with clean and professional print templates.
Share Your Ideas
Do you have innovative ways to use the PDF output in Ultimate Forms? We would love to hear about your solutions! Share your insights and help the community explore new possibilities.
By taking full advantage of Ultimate Forms' printing capabilities, you can optimize document management and elevate your business processes to the next level.
