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This part focuses on adding repeating data to an order summary. There are slight modifications to the template and code from Part 1.

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Changing the Template

The starting template is from Part 1 - Getting Started:

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In this sample, the repeat block is added to the order info merge fields. This bookmark is called "Repeat."

1. Add a bookmark around the data you wish to import.

Writing the Code

1. Include the SoftArtisans.OfficeWriter.WordWriter namespace in the code behind

using SoftArtisans.OfficeWriter.WordWriter;

2. In the code behind, call WordTemplate.SetRepeatBlock. Note that the dataset is bound with the bookmark name as an argumentmethod that will actually run the report, instantiate the WordTemplate object.

WordTemplate WT = new WordTemplate();

3. Open the template file with the WordTemplate.Open method.

WT.Open(Page.MapPath("//templates//Part2_Invoice_Template.docx"));

4. Create an object array for the header and total values and a string array for the column names.

WordTemplate can be bound to numerous types of .NET data structures: single variables, arrays (1-D, jagged, multi-dimensional), DataSet,DataTable, IDataReader etc. The source of the data can come from anywhere.

Some of the aforementioned structures have built in column names, such as the DataTable. When working with arrays, which don't have built in column names, you have to define the column names in a separate string array.

object[] orderHeader
	 = { "Jane", "Doe", DateTime.Now.ToString("MM/dd/yy"), 13139.51, 558.43, 13697.94 };
string[] orderHeaderColNames = { "FirstName", "LastName", "Date", "Subtotal", "Tax", "Total" };

If you are following in your own project and would like to parse the CSV files as well, you will need to:

• Add a reference to GenericParsing.dll
• Include GeneringParsing at the top of your code.
• Add the GetCSVData method that can be found in the sample code.

5. Get the datatable for the repeat block.

 DataTable dtOrderInfo = GetCSVData("//data//OrderInfo.csv");

6. use WordTemplate.SetRepeatBlock to pass the data and the bookmark name.

WT.SetRepeatBlock(dtOrderInfo,"Repeat");

 
7. Use SetDataSource() to bind the order details arrays. Note that the data source name is the last string

WT.SetDataSource(orderHeader, orderHeaderColNames, "OrderHeader");

8. Call WordTemplate.Process to import the data into the file.

WT.Process();

9. Call WordTemplate.Save to save the output file.

WordTemplate has several output options: save to disk, save to a stream, stream the output file in a page's Response inline or as an attachment.

WT.Save(Page.Response, "Part2_Output.docx", false);

The final output should resemble this:

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using SoftArtisans.OfficeWriter.WordWriter;
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//Instantiate a new WordTemplate object
WordTemplate WT = new WordTemplate();

//Open the template file
WT.Open(Page.MapPath("//templates//Part2_Invoice_Template.docx"));

//Create the array of detailsheader values
object[] detailsArray 
    = { "Jane", "Doe", DateTime.Now.ToString("MM/dd/yy"), "13139.51", "558.43", "13697.94" };
//Create the array of column names
string[] detailColNames = { "FirstName", "LastName", "Date", "Subtotal", "Tax", "Total" };

//Get the order info datatable using GenericParser
DataTable dtOrderInfo = GetCSVData("//data//OrderInfo.csv");

//Set the repeat block to bind the data for multiple order items
WT.SetRepeatBlock(dtOrderInfo,"Repeat");
//Set the detailsheader data source to import a single row of data
WT.SetDataSource(detailsArrayorderHeader, detailColNamesorderHeaderColNames, "OrderDetailsOrderHeader");

//Process to import the data to the template
WT.Process();

WT.Save(Response, "Part2_Output.docx", false);

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