Advanced Templates – Fetching external data with Data Sources

In this example we will show how to create and add a sample Data Source

What is Data Source? #

Data Source is an external system from which users wants to get data to a template. This can be Azure (Entra) AD, CRM, ERP or any other professional system.

When to use? #

You want to fetch data from external system into your template.

Prerequisites #

By default all subscriptions have Azure AD Data Source enabled. This Data Source allow end users to search for other users in Azure AD. To allow this Templatise add-in must be installed by company admin that must accept permissions of the add-in.

For this example we are using a template for Board Meeting Minutes from this link.

1. Download and open document
2. Open Templatise Add-in and create new template

Example #

1. Create new variable with title Chairperson Name, type Data Source and selected data source – Azure AD.
2. In list of variables you will see new Data Source variable with different fields.
3. Select FIRSTNAME in a document, double click on child variable Given Name, check ‘Connect 2 similar instances in the document’, click Connect and Save.
4. Do the same with LASTNAME text and Surname variable.
   

Now goto Template Filling tab and open our template form. You can search by name from your Active Directory.

Read more about Data Source variable here.