Advanced Options
Advanced Options allow you to merge multiple source files into a single output, set worksheet level password protection, hide zeroes upon distribution, and publish hidden worksheets.
By default, the only Advanced Option that is selected is Publish Hidden Worksheets. The following is a description of each option:
Merge File Name
The output file name can be different from the source file name when distributed. If the same Merge File Name is specified for multiple reporting permutations, the output files will be merged into a single output file. If a file exists in the Output Folder you selected with the same Merge File Name, Reports Distribution Manager (RDM) will append to the file if the Replace Existing Workbook option is not selected.
Worksheet Password
RDM can protect worksheets in Excel output files with a password. You can set a password within the source file or through the RDM Template Wizard. To set a password for an output file, when the source file is not password protected, enter a password in the Password field. Recipients of the output file will need the password you entered in RDM to unprotect the worksheet. If the source workbook contains protected sheets the password must be entered in the worksheet password field to allow RDM to execute and distribute the report.
Workbook Password
RDM supports workbook password protection where a password is required to open an Excel file. If you have set a workbook password on the source file enter the password in the Workbook Password field to allow RDM to execute and distribute the report. Recipients of the output file will need the the same password to unlock and open the file.
Hide Zeros Range(s)
Select a named range or multiple named ranges to hide zeros when the report is distributed. RDM will use the Hide Zeros functionality to hide rows that only contain zero values within the named ranges specified in the source report. Multiple named ranges across the entire source workbook can be specified. Hide Zeros is performed after each permutation of report parameters.
Replace Existing Workbook and Replace Existing Worksheet
RDM can replace or append to an existing output file. Replace Existing Workbook, when selected, will replace an existing output file with the same Merge or RDM generated output file name in the Output Folder. When Replace Existing Workbook is not selected, RDM will append any additional distribution worksheets to an existing output file with the same Merge or RDM generated file name.
Replace Existing Worksheet, when selected, will replace existing worksheets, with the same parameter values. Essentially, this will refresh existing worksheets in a workbook with the latest data. When Replace Existing Worksheet is not selected, RDM will append any additional distribution worksheets to an existing output file. If the worksheet name exists in the output file, RDM will increment the worksheet name by adding a counter to the end of the worksheet name.
The following matrix explains some of the report distribution use cases and the appropriate settings for RDM. Each use case assumes the same Merge File Name and Output Folder:
| Use Case | Parameter Values | Replace Existing Workbook | Replace Existing Worksheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace existing workbook | Different or same | Y | N |
| Replace worksheets | Different | Y | Y |
| Append additional worksheets | Different or same | N | N |
| Refresh worksheets | Same | N | Y |
Publish Hidden Worksheets
If you have hidden worksheets in your source file, you can instruct RDM to publish the hidden worksheets in the output file. Alternatively, if Publish Hidden Worksheets is not selected, the hidden worksheets in the source file are excluded when distributed.
Click Finish to create or add to the RDM Template, once the RDM Template is created you can now edit the RDM Template.
Distributed Worksheet(s)
RDM will only distribute the specified worksheets. The unselected worksheets will not be included in the output file. If no worksheet is selected, RDM will ignore this feature and distribute all worksheets.
Add Parameters To Worksheet(s)
This option allows you to control the worksheet names generated in the distributed workbook. When checking this option RDM will append the parameter value specified to the worksheet name that is displayed on the tab at the bottom of the workbook. If this option is unchecked then the worksheet name remains the same as the original source workbook.