OfficeSheet

Using the Microsoft Automation Interface for MsWord, OS4DOC is able to access internal MsWord data structures and invoke MsWord commands in a defined and repeatable manner. These Microsoft standard Automation Interfaces are rich, powerful and very complicated, but OS4DOC simplifies all this into a series of simpler, parameterised end-user functions.

To leverage the data and functionality made available by the MsWord Automation Interface we use the “AppSheet” application engine, which combines many of the benefits of highly-structured database management systems with the benefits of user-centric, highly-interactive productivity software such as MsWord and other MsOffice applications.

The “AppSheet” engine enables users to “cache” data acquired in MsWord so that it can be processed, transformed and analysed using functions or approaches not available in MsWord. The results of these transformations can be applied to other downstream systems or returned to MsWord for further use there.

Within OS4DOC data is managed in two internal forms as “cached” data from multiple sources: MsWord, other AppSheet applications and external sources.

OS4DOC provides many functions that manipulate this data, and from there it can be:

• Returned to MsWord
• Saved for later use
• Printed or Published in a variety of media;
• Converted to other data formats;
• Distributed via email

Note: transparent round-trip data management between MsWord and OS4DOC is not provided. Data is acquired from MsWord, manipulated in OS4DOC and “pushed” back to MsWord in three easy to use, but very discrete steps. 

OS4DOC provides many capabilities and functions, including:

• MsWord Application management: from OS4DOC, you can start and stop the MsWord application, and control its window visibility using standard windows concepts such as Minimise, Maximise, Hide, and Show. OS4DOC adds a new windowing mode called “Underlay”, where the MsWord application is positioned immediately under the OS4DOC window, but offset up and to the left of OS4DOC to provide access to the MsWord menus and to see the workbooks and worksheet data that is being selected.
• MsWord Internal Data and Document Integration: when Ms Word is activated, OS4DOC detects the documents that are open, and represents these in a special control called the MsOffice Navigator (or “OfficeNav”). The OfficeNav is also used to show other internal MsWord data elements that are present in the workbook, such as Hyperlinks, Comments, Names and so forth.
• MsWord File Management: from the OS4DOC application window, you can directly open and close MsWord files, individually or in groups. OS4DOC provides extensive capabilities to manage groups of files as a group using a file specification collection called a “FileList”. This powerful feature can either explicitly refer to multiple files, or can reference a pattern, including file attributes such as size or modified date. For example, if you regularly work with a number of reports that you download on a periodic basis, the File List can be specified to open the most recently saved file(s) that match a certain name pattern.
• MsWord Data Management: OS4DOC enables you to rapidly perform numerous functions using data from open documents, or to create data in documents in MsWord. There are four modes for data management: Get, Put, Report and Manage (not all are available in all editions of OS4DOC, but all are described below):

1. Get: enables you to rapidly acquire data from MsWord documents, and interpret underlying metadata or formats such as tables structures, styles, fonts and colours. You can acquire data from many internal collections related to selected documents, including Words, Sentences, Paragraphs, Tables, Hyperlinks and Footnotes.
2. Put: enables you to transfer data from OS4DOC back to MsWord in either standard grid layout or automatically creating Grouped & Outlined data using MsWord structures.
3. Report: the reporting capability enables data in OS4DOC to be generated into MsExcel files using MsExcel templates and variable substitution. This gives the most flexibility in terms of creating MsExcel output files from MsWord data.
4. Manage: from the OS4DOC application window, you can perform functions on MsWord document structures, for example “bursting” individual documents using internal document structures (e.g. styles). You are also able to “assemble” multiple documents into a single document.

• Data Analysis, Filtering, Summarisation & Transformation: OS4DOC provides a number of features for analysing, summarising and transforming data using methods that are not readily available in MsExcel or MsWord. Many of these functions are typically only found in database solutions, but are available in OS4DOC for application “on the fly” without the overhead of defining database structures and creating tables.
• Export & Publishing: OS4DOC enables you to rapidly format data in visually appealing layouts many of which are not readily available in MsWord, but without the overhead of a fully-blown reporting tool. For most office or enterprise applications, the visual reporting and publishing capabilities are more efficient than MsWord or other tools.
• Communication: having summarised, transformed or formatted your information, OS4DOC provides extensive capabilities for using this information to communicate with your colleagues and partners.
• Automation via Scripting: OS4DOC Enterprise Edition also includes a Scripting capability that enables you to write and execute multiple commands in sequence. The Scripting engine is based on Microsoft’s VBScripting engine with over 100 additional commands added, all representing functions that can be performed via the OS4DOC User Interface.

All of OS4DOC’s functions are designed to provide you with additional data transformation and management capabilities in information-intensive environments where MsWord documents are common means of information distribution and dissemination. OS4DOC dramatically simplifies the process of assimilating the information from multiple documents and distilling and communicating the relevant information to your key work colleagues and partners.