To create dynamic templates, you can use datasources. In this article, we explain what data sources are and how to use them in Microsoft Word.

What are Datasources?

A data source is simply a repository for various data. The data in these sources can be used when dynamically creating templates, allowing documents to be automatically populated.

Adding Datasources to a template

Now that you know what data sources are, you can add them to a template. Below, we explain how to add a data source to a template.

Step 1: Open the sidebar in Microsoft Word

First, you need to open the eformity sidebar. When you open Microsoft Word, the sidebar opens automatically. If not, you can click 'Show/Hide Sidebar' in the ribbon.

Step 2: Enable edit mode

Once you have opened the sidebar, you need to enable edit mode. You do this in the account menu. To open the account menu, click on the 'profile picture' in the sidebar.

When the account menu opens, you can enable edit mode in the section titled 'Edit mode'. You do this by toggling the switch.

Step 3: Edit the desired document

We assume you have already created a document. When you have activated edit mode, you can edit the created template by clicking on the pen icon (2 in the image) after selecting the document by clicking on it (1 in the image).

Step 4: Adding Datasources

When you have opened a document in edit mode, you can add a data source to the document. To do this, first navigate to the location in the document where you want to insert the data source. Then click on the 'Datasources' tab.

With the cursor in the desired location, navigate to the desired data source. We use the employee data you have added as an example.

To use the employee data (from eformity), first click on the folder named 'Employee [DXEmployee]'. If you now double-click (relatively quickly) on, for example, 'Last Name [Surname]' in the opened folder, the data source 'Last Name' will be added.

You can now save the document by clicking on the 'Save' icon in the sidebar. When a user now creates this document, their last name will be automatically inserted.