Introduction to the main features

Applies to JungleDocs for Office 365.
For a similar tutorial for JungleDocs for SharePoint 2010-2019, click here.

JungleDocs for Office 365 is a document automation app for Office 365. It helps you generate and populate Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, and lets you create extensive Word reports using SharePoint list data. In this article, you will learn the basic principles of JungleDocs for Office 365.

Before you jump into the tasks ahead, here are a few helpful things to know.

• JungleDocs for Office 365 is a provider-hosted app for Office 365 and is hosted on Microsoft Azure Cloud.
• When you use JungleDocs for Office 365, you agree to our Terms of Use.

Quick introduction

JungleDocs for Office 365 can help you with a variety of tasks related to document management in SharePoint Online. For example, you can use the app to:

• Speed up the creation of contracts, invoices, and forms
• Create HR vacation requests, forms and contracts
• Produce extensive sales and legal reports
• Implement an automatic document naming system

These are just a few of the many ways you could use JungleDocs for Office 365 in your organization. Now let's take a look at the way JungleDocs for Office 365 works.

User interface

There is a number of ways to open JungleDocs for Office 365. They will always lead you to the user interface. Here you will be able to create documents and list items by selecting a rule of your choice. Rule creation and management also take place here.

1. Rule types

You can switch between rule types using the menu buttons:

• New & From Existing - to create documents or list items
• Reports - to export multiple SharePoint list items into a Word or Excel document
• Update - to update multiple metadata column values of a document (or multiple documents) at once

Read more about rule types below.

2. Rule selection

Select a rule to run. You can also add new rules by click the New rule button on the right of the screen.

3. Post execution actions

Here you can select what action you want to be performed after you run the rule.

Icon functionality

1: after running a rule, JungleDocs for Office 365 will display an action report and will remain opened.

2: after running a rule, the target list/library will be opened (recommended, selected by default).

3: after running a rule, the document will open in Word, Excel or PowerPoint Online (depending on the file type you creating).

4. Settings and management

Icon functionality

1: go to Modern UI installation page.

2: manage your general settings, users, permission roles and global rules.

3: open documentation or support page.

4: open Account Dashboard, Subscription Plans, Billing History, Usage History.

5: close the app and return to SharePoint Online.

JungleDocs rules

The main element of JungleDocs is the JungleDocs rule. By executing a rule you can create, copy and upload documents and items. Rules also allow you to preset metadata, export SharePoint items to Word and generate custom reports. Rules have quite a few configuration options, including automated document naming to follow your organisation's file naming conventions; automated content population; ID generation and many more. 

When you create a new rule, it is only visible in the list or library you're working on. However, you can also create a 'central' version of any rule type, called a Global rule. By default, a Global rule is available on any of the SharePoint sub-sites, libraries, and lists within your organization. It's also possible to specify the locations or subsites where a particular Global rule shows up.

New & From Existing rules

This rule type allows you to create documents or list items, or to use the metadata of a selected list item to create a new document or list item. By configuring the rule settings, you can select which columns you would like to copy. The ability to copy field values between items and transforming them along the way is a feature we call Smart Copy.

Read more: Using New & From Existing rules

Report rules

This rule type allows you to export multiple list items into a document. This rule is especially useful for report creation: you can export selected items, a list view or a whole list to a custom document. It's also possible to cross-reference the data you are exporting with other lists to create all-encompassing reports.

Read more: Using Report rules

Update rules

This rule type allows you to quickly change metadata (column values) of a selected item or document. Mass update is also supported.

Read more: Using Update rules

Document templates

Templates, along with rules, is another key aspect of JungleDocs for Office 365. Templates may include:

• static content that is always the same (e.g., your company logo and address)
• dynamic content that changes depending on the document creation context. Dynamic content functionality is realised via the use of content controls (placeholders): when a rule is executed, JungleDocs for Office 365 replaces placeholders with SharePoint content automatically. 

Read more:

• Configuring Word templates
• Configuring Excel templates
• Configuring PowerPoint templates

Small Parts

For any content that has to be used in different documents - such as proposals, quotes, presentations, reports etc. - Small Parts is a time-saving solution.

All you have to do is split up the content that you use often for document creation into smaller documents (or Small Parts). Then, you can select the Small Parts to quickly assemble a custom document by clicking checkboxes. 

Read more: Using Small Parts

Getting started video

In this tutorial video for JungleDocs for Office 365 you will learn how to:

- Open JungleDocs for Office from a list
- Export SharePoint list items to Word using out-of-the-box report rule and template
- Learn how your view settings affect your end result
- Create a custom Report rule
- Manually configure a report template
- Export selected list items into a custom Word document

Supported file types