AX2766

Running file processing on an Axiom file

If a file is set up to use file processing, you can process the file to automatically create various file outputs, such as:

  • Save snapshot copies of the file and automatically email them to various recipients
  • Print one or more sheets in the file using one or more print views
  • Export data in the file to a CSV or TXT file
  • Collect multiple output files into a single report package
  • Process multiple reports in batch

File processing can be used in all spreadsheet Axiom files except file group templates, however, report files are the most common use case.

NOTE: The file processing menu command and the associated task pane are only available to administrators and to users with the Allow File Processing permission for the file.

To process a file using file processing:

  1. Open the file. If you want to see what the file is configured to do during file processing before executing it, you can check the settings in the File Processing task pane.

  2. In the File Processing task pane, in the Actions section, click one of the following options to start processing:
    • Process File: The file is processed once "as is." The file is refreshed and the file processing action is performed. No multipass filter or settings are applied.

    • Process File Multipass: The file is processed multiple times, with a unique filter applied for each pass. For example, if the file is set up to process by DEPT, then the file is processed once for each department. The data queries in the file are automatically filtered to return data for the current pass department only.

    TIP: You can also process the file using the File Processing menu on the Axiom tab. (In systems with installed products, this feature may be located on the Main tab.)

Once file processing is initiated, the following occurs:

  • The file is refreshed. If you are performing multipass processing, the file is refreshed using a data filter for the current pass item.
  • The file processing action is performed. If you are performing multipass processing, the action may be performed after each pass, or it may be performed once all passes are complete, depending on the file processing settings.

A status bar displays the progress of the file processing. When the processing is complete, a confirmation box displays information about the process, such as how many passes were performed, how many files were created, etc.

Note that the file itself is not saved as part of file processing. You can process a file even if you have read-only rights to the file. However, if the file processing is set up to save to the database, you must have rights to save data for that file.