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      Datylon ChartRunner Quickstart Guide

      Getting started with Datylon ChartRunner

      For assistance in obtaining a trial license key, scheduling a demo, accessing training resources, or any other inquiries to help you get started, please reach out to us via email at getsupport@datylon.com, engage with us through the chat feature in this Help Center, or arrange a meeting with one of our experts using this link: book meeting.

       

      What is Datylon ChartRunner?

      Datylon ChartRunner is a Microsoft Excel add-in that lets you automatically create multiple reports using a Datylon template and a Microsoft Excel workbook. Without coding. 

      To use ChartRunner, you’ll need a trial or purchased license key. Contact us at getsupport@datylon.com to obtain your license key.

      Content

      Installing Datylon ChartRunner

      Uploading Datylon Designs or Templates to Datylon Report Studio

      Preparing the Data, with Sample

      Settings

      Running the Report

      Known limitations

       

      Installing Datylon ChartRunner

      Requirements for using Datylon ChartRunner

      • Datylon account:
        If you haven't yet created a Datylon account, you can do so by clicking the "Sign up here" link located in the ChartRunner pane or by clicking this link.

      To use ChartRunner, you will need a Datylon account that includes a password. If you initially registered for a Datylon account using Google sign-in, you can easily create a new Datylon account by utilizing an email subaddress with a "+" sign.

      For instance, if your email address is example@gmail.com, you can generate a variation such as example+chartrunner@gmail.com.

      • ChartRunner license key:
        Obtain your license key by contacting us at getsupport@datylon.com. Enter the key by clicking the Account Settings icon in the ChartRunner pane and add the license key in the appropriate field.

      • Supported Operating System
        • Windows 10 or 11
        • MacOS Intel or M1

      • Supported Browser: 
        • Edge, Chrome, Safari

      • Supported Excel Version
        • From version 2204 (May 2022) on Windows (Edge Webkit)
        • From version 16.59 (March 15, 2022) on Mac (Safari Webkit)
        • Not Supported: Excel Online

       

      Installation Instructions

      1. Open Microsoft Excel.
      2. Select Insert > Get Add-ins (on Windows) or Insert > My Add-ins (on macOS).
      3. In the window that appears, go to the Store tab.
      4. Search for “Datylon ChartRunner.”
      5. Click the Add button.
      6. Agree to the provider’s license terms and privacy policy by clicking Continue.

      ChartRunner is now installed!

      To open the ChartRunner pane:

      1. Click the Datylon tab in the top toolbar.
      2. Click Start to open the ChartRunner pane.

       

      Uploading Datylon Designs or Templates to Datylon Report Studio

      ChartRunner generates reports using Datylon Designs or Templates stored in Datylon Report Studio.

      • Templates or Designs can be created in Datylon Report Studio (for single charts) or with Datylon for Illustrator (for full layouts).
      • Check out our tutorials in the Help Center for guidance on creating Designs and Templates.

      For more details on uploading Designs or Templates to Datylon Report Studio, visit this tutorial.

      Note: When we mention Templates, Designs can also be used.

       

      Preparing the Data and Run your first sample

      To help you get started with ChartRunner, you can download the sample Datylon template, Datylon-ChartRunner-Getting Started.SVG.
      If the file opens in your browser, you can easily save it to your local device by right-clicking (on Windows) or Ctrl-clicking (on macOS) on the image.

      Upload the SVG file as a Template:

      1. Log in to Datylon Report Studio in a browser. 
      2. Navigate to Workspace > Templates > Upload Template, or click here. 
      3. Choose a file and select the downloaded SVG file, or drag the template into the browser, then Save.

      Download the sample Excel workbook:

      1. Select the Datylon template in Datylon Report Studio, Workspace > Templates.
      2. Under the Attached data section at the bottom right of the page, download the ChartRunner data sample.xls file.

      This will help you understand how the data in the Excel workbook and Datylon template should be structured.

      Run the report:

      1. Open ChartRunner data sample.xls
      2. Click Datylon > Start, sign in with your Datylon account credentials if needed. 
      3. Select the Templates folder, and click on the previously saved template. 
      4. Enable Repeat header in the ChartRunner Settings.
      5. Click Run, and when asked fill in your Datylon account password and ChartRunner license key. 
      6. After the Run, Go to Download and unzip de file.
      7. Congratulations! Now open the unzipped folder with all your reports.

       

      Below are more detailed instructions on preparing new data:

      Excel Data

      • The Excel workbook must include all datasheets used in the selected Datylon template.
      • Datasheet names in Excel must exactly match those in the Datylon template.
      • Each datasheet should contain data for multiple reports, structured in rows.
      • Each row represents one series in a report. For example, charts with two series require two rows.
      • The first column in each datasheet should contain the report name.
      • All datasheets should include the same number of reports with matching names. However, row data fields can be empty if needed.
      • Optionally, the first row can act as a header and be repeated automatically when running reports.
      • Data formatting must be compatible with the charts in the Datylon template.

      Datylon Template Data

      • The template datasheet contains data for only one report.
      • The report name column is omitted.

       

      When selecting a Datylon template and running ChartRunner, the tool will perform data validity checks to identify potential issues.

       

      Settings

      1. Output Type:
        Options: PNG, SVG, or PDF (default).
      2. Repeat Header:
        Enables the Excel header row to repeat for each report data set. This is disabled by default but is recommended.
      3. All or Range:
        Choose to run all reports or specify a range. The range corresponds to the order of report names in the data.

      Running the Report

      1. Select the appropriate template in the ChartRunner pane.
      2. Click Run to start rendering your reports.
      3. You can cancel the process if needed.
      4. Once completed, a ZIP file containing all rendered reports will be downloaded to your Downloads folder.
      5. Unzip the file, and your reports are ready!

      Known Limitations

      Starting a ChartRunner run clears the Excel undo history. Changes made before the run cannot be undone using the undo function.