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Overview

Document Studio is N3’s advanced report creation and customization platform that empowers users to create bespoke, professional reports with rich formatting, dynamic content, and advanced template management. Unlike standard reports, Document Studio provides complete creative control over report structure, styling, and content.

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Key Benefits

  • Complete Customization: Full control over report layout, formatting, and content structure
  • Rich Text Editing: Advanced WYSIWYG editor with comprehensive formatting options
  • Template Management: Create, save, and reuse custom report templates across projects
  • Version Control: Maintain complete version history for all reports and templates
  • Dynamic Content: Integrate live project data into custom report layouts
  • Professional Output: Export reports as high-quality PDFs with professional formatting

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Core Features

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Advanced Report Builder

Document Studio’s report builder provides comprehensive tools for creating professional documents:

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Block-Based Editor

  • Rich Text Blocks: Full-featured text editing with formatting, lists, and styling
  • Data Blocks: Dynamic insertion of project data, metrics, and calculated values
  • Table Builder: Create and customize tables with project-specific data
  • Section Management: Organize content into logical sections with headers and navigation
  • Media Integration: Embed images, charts, and other visual elements

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Template System

  • Custom Templates: Create reusable templates for consistent report formatting
  • Template Library: Access shared templates across your organization
  • Template Versioning: Track changes and maintain template evolution
  • Conditional Logic: Include/exclude sections based on project characteristics

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Project Data Integration

Seamlessly integrate live project data into your custom reports:

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Available Data Sources

  • Project Metadata: Basic project information, dates, and identifiers
  • Financial Data: Cost inputs, budgets, drawdowns, and financial metrics
  • Risk Assessments: Current risk status, historical assessments, and risk metrics
  • Site Information: Location data, site area, building specifications
  • Party Information: Project stakeholders, contacts, and organizational data

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Dynamic Content

  • Live Data: Reports automatically reflect current project status
  • Calculated Fields: Use formulas to derive metrics from project data
  • Conditional Content: Show/hide content based on project characteristics
  • Data Formatting: Apply professional formatting to numerical and date data

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Report Management

Comprehensive tools for managing your report library:

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Version Control

  • Automatic Versioning: Every save creates a new version with timestamp
  • Version Comparison: Compare different versions to track changes
  • Version Restoration: Revert to previous versions when needed
  • Collaborative Editing: Track multiple contributors to reports

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Organization

  • Project Association: Reports are organized by project for easy access
  • Naming Conventions: Consistent naming helps maintain report libraries
  • Search Capabilities: Find reports quickly using project or content search
  • Access Controls: Manage who can view, edit, and export reports

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Getting Started

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Creating Your First Custom Report

1

Access Document Studio

Navigate to Document Studio from your project dashboard or main menu.
2

Select Project and Template

Choose your target project and either start from a blank template or select an existing template.
3

Design Report Structure

Use the block editor to create your report structure: - Add title pages and headers - Create content sections - Insert data blocks for dynamic content - Add tables, images, and other elements
4

Configure Dynamic Content

Connect project data to your report: - Insert project metadata blocks - Add financial data displays - Include risk assessment summaries - Configure conditional content rules
5

Style and Format

Apply professional styling: - Set fonts, colors, and spacing - Configure page layouts and margins - Add headers, footers, and page numbers - Apply consistent formatting across sections
6

Preview and Export

Review your report and export as PDF for distribution.

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Working with Templates

Templates are the foundation of efficient report creation in Document Studio:

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Creating Templates

  1. Start with Structure: Design the basic layout and section structure
  2. Add Dynamic Placeholders: Insert data blocks for project-specific information
  3. Configure Styling: Set fonts, colors, and formatting standards
  4. Define Required Sections: Mark sections as required for template users
  5. Test with Sample Data: Validate the template with real project data

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Template Best Practices

  • Consistent Branding: Include organizational logos, colors, and styling
  • Logical Structure: Organize content in a logical flow for readers
  • Dynamic Flexibility: Design templates to work with various project types
  • Clear Instructions: Provide guidance for template users
  • Regular Updates: Keep templates current with changing requirements

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Advanced Features

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Custom Styling

Document Studio supports comprehensive styling options:

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Typography

  • Font Selection: Choose from professional font libraries
  • Size and Weight: Configure text sizing and emphasis
  • Line Spacing: Control text density and readability
  • Text Colors: Apply brand colors and emphasis

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Layout Control

  • Page Margins: Set professional margin standards
  • Column Layouts: Create multi-column sections
  • Section Spacing: Control white space between sections
  • Page Breaks: Force page breaks for section separation

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Table Customization

  • Border Styles: Configure table borders and cell styling
  • Header Formatting: Apply distinct header styling
  • Data Formatting: Format numbers, dates, and currency values
  • Responsive Tables: Tables adapt to content and page width

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Data Block Types

Document Studio provides various block types for dynamic content:
Display basic project metadata like name, reference, location, and key dates.
Show cost breakdowns, budget vs actual comparisons, and financial summaries.
Display current risk status, risk matrices, and assessment summaries.
Create dynamic tables populated with project data like party information, cost inputs, or assessment results.
Insert visual representations of project data including cost trends and risk matrices.

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Collaboration Features

Document Studio supports collaborative report creation:

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Multi-User Editing

  • Concurrent Access: Multiple users can work on reports simultaneously
  • Change Tracking: All modifications are tracked with user attribution
  • Comment System: Add comments and feedback within reports
  • Review Workflow: Structured review and approval processes

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Access Control

  • Project-Based Access: Access is controlled at the project level
  • Role-Based Permissions: Different permission levels for viewers, editors, and administrators
  • Template Sharing: Control template access across organizations
  • Export Restrictions: Manage who can export final reports

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Integration with Other Features

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Relationship to Other N3 Features

Document Studio integrates seamlessly with other N3 platform features:

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Project Management

  • Live Data Sync: Reports reflect current project status automatically
  • Project Events: Report creation and updates are logged as project events
  • Multi-Project Reports: Create reports spanning multiple related projects

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Initial and Interim Reports

  • Template Reuse: Use Document Studio templates for standard reports
  • Content Enhancement: Add custom sections to standard report formats
  • Workflow Integration: Incorporate custom reports into standard reporting workflows

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Risk Management

  • Risk Data Integration: Automatically pull current risk assessments
  • Risk Visualization: Create custom risk dashboards and matrices
  • Historical Analysis: Track risk trends over time in custom formats

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Best Practices

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Report Design

  • User-Focused Design: Design reports for your intended audience
  • Consistent Branding: Maintain organizational branding standards
  • Clear Hierarchy: Use headers and sections to guide readers
  • Visual Balance: Balance text with white space and visual elements

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Template Management

  • Standardization: Create consistent templates for similar report types
  • Documentation: Document template usage and requirements
  • Testing: Thoroughly test templates with various project types
  • Versioning: Maintain template versions for different use cases

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Workflow Integration

  • Regular Updates: Keep reports current with project progress
  • Review Cycles: Establish regular review and approval processes
  • Distribution: Develop consistent distribution methods for final reports
  • Archive Management: Maintain organized archives of completed reports

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Troubleshooting

Check for unsupported HTML elements or overly complex layouts. Simplify the design or contact support for advanced formatting assistance.
Verify that the project data source is current and that data blocks are properly configured with correct field references.
Ensure templates are saved properly and that users have appropriate access permissions. Check for corrupted template data.
If versions aren’t saving properly, check for network connectivity issues and ensure the browser isn’t blocking the save operation.
  • Initial Reports: Standard project reporting that can be enhanced with Document Studio
  • Interim Reports: Progress reporting that benefits from custom formatting
  • Templates: Template management system for consistent formatting
  • Projects: Project data that powers dynamic content in reports
  • File Management: Document storage and retrieval for report attachments