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Being able to export data, is a crucial feature of business software. Most applications offer export formats like XLS, XML or HTML with a fixed set of data-fields and a static internal markup. We also tried to take this road, but realized its drawbacks very soon.

We felt the need for a new approach, driven by the fact that we don’t know how our users want their data. Paired with our reach for freedom, we implement an outstanding flexible export system. It is based on export-templates which define:

• exportable data-fields (through placeholders)
• arbitrary text-based output:  HTML, XML, CSV, Plain text, … whatever you want!

To aid with HTML/XML generation one can further choose between HAML or Textile markup.

Export template creating a HTML table. Uses HAML Markup.

An export template is bound to a specific data type(invoices, estimates, clients) and will show up in the export dialog. To create a new export activate the batch control and choose the green arrow. Finished exports are saved to the export log, from where the file can be downloaded.

Create a new export

Of course, we have not yet reached all of our goals, so our roadmap contains:

• email an export
• export attachments (archived PDF)
• export all records by a given filter

During this week the first couple of batch operations made their way into SalesKing. Our unique intuitive batch control is now available for invoices, estimates orders, credit-notes and  payment reminders. Allowing you to create PDF-files(archived versions), change the status and export multiple documents.

Wondering about exports? Yes its brand new feature, which will be introduced in another article.

Unique batch control

To select documents from the list, you can either click [+] (select all), use the check-boxes (select single) or draw a rectangle with your mouse. During mouse selection you can add records by holding down CTRL. The [-] simply inverts the current selection.

Batch create PDF versions of multiple documents

All batch operations are processed in the background and, when finished, their result is logged to the history. As stated above those first three operations are just the beginning, stay tuned for more:

• email sending
• deleting
• tagging
• commenting
• add payments

And of course we will introduce the batch control step by step for all other lists (clients, products, logs).

And here’s another one for those to whom our default formatting does not fit. The second most requested feature, of international users, was the ability to change the currency and money format … well here it is:

New currency formatting options

While editing have an eye on the money value next to the currency chooser,  showing a live preview of your settings.  Another option worth mentioning is  the decimal precision selector. Besides the setting you make, all money values are stored with  six decimal places. When displayed they are rounded to the chosen precision.

We provide  a couple of currencies but not all have good defaults (inserted on select). If you provide us with options for your country/currency we will update them.

This is the first post for our international users .. sorry guys .. took us a while. But now you can finally change and customize your date format.

New Date formatting options

Within the date format field you can use a couple of placeholders to change the date formatting in any way you like. The formatting will then be used everywhere a date is shown, be it in an invoice list or on an invoice pdf template.

Date format templates

For the beginners in date formatting there are a couple of templates to provide an easy start. The pro’s should take a look into ruby’s strftime function.