Exporting TMS Data for use in Third Party Applications

We often receive calls asking about outputting TMS data in a different form or sort order than in the standard reports. This kind of “outside the box” data crunching is possible using the TMS Report Export capability. This provides several important benefits:

	Exported data can be modified in any way desired by the user without harming the actual TMS data.
	Exported data is “de-normalized”, freeing the user from the complexities of the TMS relational structure.
	Exported data can be sent to a number of common formats so that most common programs can use it.

Exporting your TMS data is as simple as running the standard TMS report that most closely provides the data that you need and then selecting the File button from the Send Report To dialog. Select the desired format and provide a complete file name to receive the TMS data. The following example demonstrates exporting to an Excel worksheet:

Select the desired report and click the Create Report button.
Set any necessary filters on your data to provide the records you want.
When the Send Report To dialog appears, click the File button.
Select Excel Sheet as the file type.
Click the Browse button and select the directory and file name to receive the data.

We recommend that you do NOT export files to your TMS data folder. This will avoid the possibility of accidentally overwriting TMS data.

If you’re creating a new file, enter the name in the file name area, being sure to include the .XLS extension. Click Select to return.
Click the OK button and the file will be created.
Exit TMS and open Excel. Open the file you created above in Excel.
This worksheet can now be modified any way you like. Add calculated columns, sort or filter, hide columns that you don’t need, and format the cells as needed. You are limited only by your imagination and Excel expertise.