DraftInternal

SW-SAAS-TRN-COMP-001

Training Guide - Communications

Version

1.0

Owner

Training Manager

Effective Date

2025-01-15

Review Date

2025-07-15

Training Guide - Communications

Document Control

Document ID: SW-SAAS-TRN-COMP-001
Version: 1.0
Status: Draft
Owner: Training Manager
Parent Document: SW-SAAS-TRN-001 (Training Catalog)
Effective Date: 2025-01-15

The Communications component provides powerful document generation capabilities based on OpenText Communications (Exstream). It enables organizations to create high-volume, personalized customer communications from templates and data.

Primary Use Cases:

High-volume customer communications (invoices, statements, notices)
Personalized document generation
Compliance-required communications
Transaction documents
Marketing and campaign materials

1.2 Available Training Courses

Communications training is organized into role-based learning paths:

Role	Courses	Total Duration
Administrator	CN-ADM-001 (Communications modules)	4 hours
Template Designer	CN-DES-001, CN-DES-002, CN-DES-003	20 hours
Developer	CN-DEV-001	4 hours
End User	CN-USR-001 (Communications modules)	1.5 hours

1.3 Prerequisites

All Users:

Completion of PLAT-ORI-001 (Platform Orientation)
Access to Communications tenant

Technical Roles (Developers, Advanced Designers):

Understanding of XML/JSON data structures
Basic programming concepts (for developers)
API fundamentals (for developers)

1.4 Training Delivery

Formats Available:

Instructor-led (on-site)
Virtual instructor-led (VILT)
Self-paced (selected courses)
Blended learning

Class Size:

Maximum 12 participants for hands-on courses
Maximum 20 participants for overview/user courses

2. Administrator Training

2.1 Course: CN-ADM-001 - Communications Administration

Course ID: CN-ADM-001
Duration: 4 hours
Format: ILT or VILT
Target Audience: System administrators, platform administrators

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Configure Communications tenant settings
Manage users, roles, and permissions
Configure document generation settings and output channels
Monitor system health and job status
Perform basic troubleshooting
Manage templates and template libraries

Topics Covered

Module 1: Component Overview (30 minutes)

Communications architecture
Document generation workflow
Output channels (PDF, HTML, print)
Integration points
Performance considerations

Module 2: Tenant Configuration (60 minutes)

Accessing the administration console
General settings and preferences
Document output settings (PDF, HTML, print)
Storage and retention policies
Branding and white-labeling
Environment variables

Module 3: User and Permission Management (45 minutes)

Component-specific roles (Designer, Operator, Viewer)
Assigning permissions
Template access control
API key management for integrations
Audit trail configuration

Module 4: Template Management (45 minutes)

Uploading and organizing templates
Template versioning and activation
Template library management
Template testing tools
Template migration between environments
Backup and restore procedures

Module 5: Monitoring and Troubleshooting (60 minutes)

Job queue monitoring
Generation logs and error analysis
Performance metrics and dashboards
Alert configuration
Common issues and solutions
When to escalate to Swedwise support

Hands-On Labs

Lab 1: Initial Configuration (30 minutes)

Configure tenant-level settings
Set up document output preferences
Configure retention policies

Lab 2: User Management (20 minutes)

Create users with different roles
Assign template permissions
Test access controls

Lab 3: Template Administration (30 minutes)

Upload and activate templates
Configure template settings
Test template generation

Lab 4: Monitoring and Troubleshooting (30 minutes)

Monitor job queues
Investigate failed jobs
Generate status reports

Prerequisites

PLAT-ORI-001 completed
Administrator access to Communications tenant

Included In

Standard onboarding (1 session for up to 6 administrators)

Materials Provided

Administrator guide (PDF)
Configuration checklist
Troubleshooting quick reference
Lab exercise files

3. Template Designer Training

3.1 Course: CN-DES-001 - Template Designer Fundamentals

Course ID: CN-DES-001
Duration: 8 hours (full day)
Format: ILT or VILT (hands-on)
Target Audience: Template designers, business analysts, technical writers

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Navigate the OpenText Designer interface
Create basic document templates
Bind data to template elements
Apply basic formatting and styling
Test templates with sample data
Deploy templates to production

Topics Covered

Module 1: Designer Interface Overview (60 minutes)

Launching and navigating Designer
Workspace layout and panels
Creating a new template project
Template structure and components
Design canvas and rulers
Properties panel
Data model panel

Module 2: Data Binding Basics (90 minutes)

Understanding XML data structure
Importing sample data
Data model tree navigation
Binding text fields
Binding images
Using expressions
Preview and testing

Module 3: Layout and Formatting (90 minutes)

Page setup and margins
Text formatting (fonts, styles, colors)
Paragraph formatting
Tables and columns
Images and logos
Positioning elements
Grid and alignment tools

Module 4: Basic Document Logic (60 minutes)

Conditional elements (show/hide)
Page breaks
Headers and footers
Page numbering
Table of contents
Simple calculations

Module 5: Testing and Deployment (60 minutes)

Testing with sample data
Validating output (PDF, HTML)
Common errors and fixes
Packaging templates
Deploying to server
Version management

Hands-On Labs

Lab 1: First Template (60 minutes)

Create simple letter template
Import data model
Bind fields to data
Format text and layout
Generate PDF output

Lab 2: Invoice Template (90 minutes)

Create invoice header
Build line items table
Add calculations (subtotal, tax, total)
Add company logo
Format for professional output

Lab 3: Statement Template (60 minutes)

Multi-page document
Repeating sections
Conditional content
Headers/footers with page numbers
Test with multiple data sets

Prerequisites

PLAT-ORI-001 completed
Basic understanding of data structures
Familiarity with layout/design concepts (helpful)

Included In

Standard onboarding (1 session for up to 12 designers)

Materials Provided

Designer user guide
Sample templates and data files
Design best practices guide
Quick reference card
Access to practice environment (30 days)

Assessment

Practical exercise: Create template to specification
Passing criteria: Functional template with correct output

3.2 Course: CN-DES-002 - Advanced Template Development

Course ID: CN-DES-002
Duration: 8 hours (full day)
Format: ILT or VILT (hands-on)
Target Audience: Experienced template designers

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Create complex, multi-section documents
Implement advanced conditional logic
Use loops and repeating sections effectively
Optimize templates for performance
Implement dynamic layouts
Handle complex data structures

Topics Covered

Module 1: Advanced Data Handling (90 minutes)

Complex XML/JSON structures
Nested data (parent-child relationships)
Data filtering and sorting
Aggregations and grouping
XPath expressions
Data validation

Module 2: Advanced Logic and Conditionals (90 minutes)

Complex conditional expressions
Multiple conditions (AND, OR, NOT)
Switch/case logic
Dynamic content selection
Suppression rules
Error handling in templates

Module 3: Loops and Repeating Content (90 minutes)

For-each loops
Nested loops
Loop variables and counters
Dynamic tables with variable rows
Repeating sections with page breaks
Loop performance optimization

Module 4: Dynamic Layouts (60 minutes)

Variable page sizes
Conditional page breaks
Dynamic spacing and positioning
Flow-based layouts
Overflow handling
Multi-column layouts

Module 5: Performance Optimization (60 minutes)

Template performance factors
Optimizing data queries
Image optimization
Reducing complexity
Caching strategies
Testing performance
Benchmarking

Hands-On Labs

Lab 1: Complex Document Structure (90 minutes)

Multi-section document (cover, summary, details, appendix)
Dynamic table of contents
Cross-references
Conditional sections based on data

Lab 2: Advanced Data Processing (60 minutes)

Process hierarchical data
Group and sort records
Calculate subtotals by group
Display only relevant sections

Lab 3: Performance Challenge (60 minutes)

Analyze slow template
Identify bottlenecks
Apply optimizations
Measure improvement

Lab 4: Real-World Scenario (90 minutes)

Build comprehensive template (e.g., loan agreement, insurance policy)
Apply all learned techniques
Test with various data scenarios

Prerequisites

CN-DES-001 completed
3 months template design experience (recommended)
Proficiency with basic template operations

Cost

Additional session (not included in standard onboarding): 10,000 SEK

Materials Provided

Advanced designer guide
Complex sample templates
Performance tuning guide
XPath reference card
Practice environment access (30 days)

Assessment

Practical exam: Build complex template to specification
Passing criteria: Functional, performant template

3.3 Course: CN-DES-003 - Template Design Best Practices

Course ID: CN-DES-003
Duration: 4 hours
Format: ILT or VILT
Target Audience: Template designers, design team leads

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Apply template design best practices
Create maintainable, reusable templates
Implement design standards and style guides
Optimize for accessibility
Manage template libraries effectively
Collaborate on template development

Topics Covered

Module 1: Design Standards (60 minutes)

Establishing design guidelines
Brand consistency
Typography and color standards
Layout conventions
Naming conventions
Documentation standards

Module 2: Reusability and Modularity (60 minutes)

Template fragments and components
Master templates
Shared resources (fonts, images, styles)
Template inheritance
Parameterized templates
Library organization

Module 3: Maintainability (45 minutes)

Code organization and structure
Commenting and documentation
Version control strategies
Change management
Testing procedures
Refactoring templates

Module 4: Accessibility and Compliance (45 minutes)

PDF/UA (accessible PDFs)
Screen reader compatibility
Color contrast and readability
Alternative text for images
Document structure and tagging
Regulatory compliance (WCAG)

Module 5: Collaboration and Quality (30 minutes)

Peer review processes
Testing and validation
Knowledge sharing
Template quality metrics
Continuous improvement

Hands-On Labs

Lab 1: Create Master Template (45 minutes)

Design reusable header/footer
Create shared styles
Build template fragment library

Lab 2: Accessibility Audit (30 minutes)

Evaluate template for accessibility
Implement improvements
Test with screen reader

Lab 3: Template Refactoring (45 minutes)

Analyze poorly designed template
Refactor for maintainability
Document changes

Prerequisites

CN-DES-001 and CN-DES-002 completed
6 months design experience (recommended)

Cost

Additional session: 8,000 SEK

Materials Provided

Design standards template
Best practices guide
Accessibility checklist
Template quality scorecard

Assessment

None (workshop format)

4. Developer Training

4.1 Course: CN-DEV-001 - Document Generation API

Course ID: CN-DEV-001
Duration: 4 hours
Format: ILT or VILT (hands-on)
Target Audience: Software developers, integration specialists

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Authenticate to the Document Generation API
Submit document generation requests
Handle synchronous and asynchronous generation
Process batch generation jobs
Retrieve generated documents
Implement error handling
Monitor job status

Topics Covered

Module 1: API Overview (30 minutes)

API architecture and endpoints
Authentication methods (API keys, OAuth)
Request/response formats
Rate limits and quotas
Versioning

Module 2: Single Document Generation (60 minutes)

API endpoint structure
Request payload format
Passing data (XML/JSON)
Specifying templates
Output format options (PDF, HTML, print)
Synchronous vs. asynchronous calls
Response handling

Module 3: Batch Processing (45 minutes)

Batch API endpoints
Batch request format
Processing large volumes
Monitoring batch jobs
Retrieving batch results
Performance considerations

Module 4: Error Handling (30 minutes)

Common error codes
Validation errors
Template errors
System errors
Retry strategies
Logging and debugging

Module 5: Document Retrieval and Storage (30 minutes)

Retrieving generated documents
Temporary storage duration
Downloading documents
Archiving strategies
Cleanup procedures

Module 6: Best Practices (45 minutes)

API call patterns
Caching strategies
Performance optimization
Security considerations
Testing integrations
Monitoring and alerting

Hands-On Labs

Lab 1: First API Call (30 minutes)

Set up authentication
Make first document generation request
Retrieve and display document

Lab 2: Asynchronous Generation (30 minutes)

Submit async generation job
Poll for job status
Retrieve completed document

Lab 3: Batch Processing (30 minutes)

Submit batch job (100 documents)
Monitor progress
Retrieve all documents

Lab 4: Error Handling (30 minutes)

Handle validation errors
Implement retry logic
Log errors appropriately

Prerequisites

PLAT-INT-001 completed
Programming proficiency (any language)
Understanding of REST APIs

Included In

Standard onboarding for technical users (1 session)

Materials Provided

API reference guide
Code samples (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript)
Postman collection
Integration patterns guide
Practice environment access

Assessment

Practical exercise: Build working integration
Passing criteria: Successfully generate and retrieve documents

5. End User Training (Communications Modules)

5.1 Course: CN-USR-001 - End User Overview (Communications)

Course ID: CN-USR-001 (Communications modules)
Duration: 1.5 hours
Format: ILT, VILT, or self-paced
Target Audience: End users who generate documents

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Navigate the user interface
Generate documents on-demand
Track job status
Preview and download documents
Perform basic troubleshooting
Report issues

Topics Covered

Module 1: User Interface Overview (15 minutes)

Logging in and navigation
Dashboard overview
User preferences
Available templates

Module 2: Generating Documents (40 minutes)

Selecting templates
Entering or uploading data
Choosing output format
Previewing documents
Generating final output
Downloading documents

Module 3: Tracking and History (20 minutes)

Viewing job history
Checking job status
Downloading previous documents
Filtering and searching

Module 4: Troubleshooting and Support (15 minutes)

Common issues and solutions
When to contact support
How to report issues
Accessing help documentation

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 1: Generate a Document (25 minutes)

Select template
Enter sample data
Preview and generate
Download PDF

Exercise 2: Track and Retrieve (10 minutes)

Find previous job
Check status
Download document

Prerequisites

PLAT-ORI-001 completed
User access to Communications

Included In

Standard onboarding (unlimited users via VILT or self-paced)

Materials Provided

User quick start guide
Common tasks reference card
FAQ document
Support contact information

Assessment

None (optional knowledge check quiz available)

6. Training Materials and Resources

6.1 Documentation

Designer Documentation:

Designer User Guide (200+ pages)
Template Developer Reference
XPath Expression Guide
Performance Tuning Guide

API Documentation:

API Reference (complete endpoint documentation)
Integration Guide
Code samples repository
Swagger/OpenAPI specification

Administrator Documentation:

Administration Guide
Configuration Reference
Troubleshooting Guide

Access: Customer portal, docs.swedwise.se

6.2 Video Tutorials

Available Tutorials:

Platform overview (10 min)
Creating your first template (20 min)
Data binding essentials (15 min)
Working with tables (15 min)
Conditional logic basics (15 min)
Using the Document Generation API (15 min)
Advanced design techniques (25 min)

Format: HD video with narration and captions

Access: Customer portal, YouTube (selected content)

6.3 Sample Templates and Data

Template Library:

Invoice template
Statement template
Letter template
Multi-page report template
Form template

Sample Data Sets:

Single record XML/JSON
Batch data (10, 100, 1000 records)
Complex hierarchical data
Edge cases and error scenarios

Access: Provided during training; available via customer portal

6.4 Practice Environment

Includes:

Isolated tenant for practice
Sample templates pre-loaded
Test data sets
Full API access
No limits on usage (training only)

Duration: 30 days from course completion (extended upon request)

Request: Via customer portal or support@swedwise.se

7. Certification Path

7.1 Certified Template Designer

Prerequisites:

Completion of CN-DES-001 and CN-DES-002
Submission of portfolio (3 template examples demonstrating various techniques)
6 months template design experience (recommended)

Exam Components:

Practical Exam (4 hours):

Design template to detailed specification
Implement required business logic
Ensure proper formatting and output
Document template design decisions

Written Exam (60 minutes):

40 multiple-choice questions
Topics: Design principles, data binding, logic, best practices
Passing score: 80%

Exam Fee: 5,000 SEK

Validity: 2 years

Recertification:

Submit updated portfolio (new template examples)
Complete "What's New" course
Or retake abbreviated exam

Benefits:

Digital badge
Listed in Certified Designer directory
Access to advanced designer community
Early access to new features
Discounted advanced training

7.2 Certified Integration Developer (Communications API)

Prerequisites:

Completion of CN-DEV-001
Submission of code samples (document generation integration project)
Programming proficiency certification or demonstration

Exam Components:

Practical Exam (3 hours):

Build document generation integration to specification
Implement error handling and logging
Documentation

Written Exam (45 minutes):

30 multiple-choice questions
Topics: API usage, integration patterns, security, best practices
Passing score: 80%

Exam Fee: 4,000 SEK

Validity: 2 years

Recertification:

Submit new integration project
Complete API updates course
Or retake abbreviated exam

Benefits:

Digital badge
Listed in Certified Developer directory
Access to developer community and forums
Early API documentation access

8. Training Best Practices by Role

8.1 For Administrators

Before Training:

Review platform architecture documentation
List specific configuration requirements
Identify integration points
Prepare questions

During Training:

Take detailed notes on configurations
Document settings and decisions
Ask about your specific environment
Practice in lab environment

After Training:

Document your tenant configuration
Create runbooks for common tasks
Set up monitoring and alerts
Schedule knowledge transfer to team

8.2 For Template Designers

Before Training:

Review sample templates
Understand your data structures
List documents you need to create
Install Designer software (if applicable)

During Training:

Practice each technique immediately
Build templates for your use cases
Ask about design challenges
Take advantage of instructor expertise

After Training:

Start with simple templates
Gradually increase complexity
Build a template library
Share knowledge with team
Consider certification path

Ongoing:

Stay current with new features
Review best practices regularly
Participate in designer community
Refactor and improve existing templates

8.3 For Developers

Before Training:

Set up development environment
Review API documentation overview
Understand integration requirements
Prepare test data

During Training:

Code along with examples
Test APIs during lab exercises
Ask about your specific integration scenarios
Document patterns and techniques

After Training:

Build proof-of-concept integration
Test thoroughly in practice environment
Implement error handling
Set up monitoring and logging
Consider certification

Ongoing:

Monitor API updates and new features
Optimize integration performance
Share code patterns with team
Contribute to internal knowledge base

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What's the difference between CN-DES-001 and CN-DES-002?
A: CN-DES-001 covers fundamentals (interface, basic templates, data binding). CN-DES-002 is for experienced designers and covers complex logic, optimization, and advanced techniques.

Q: Is template designer software included?
A: OpenText Designer is licensed software. Access is provided as part of your subscription. Installation and licensing covered in training.

Q: Can I learn template design without attending training?
A: Yes. Self-paced materials and documentation are available. However, instructor-led training significantly accelerates learning and provides hands-on guidance.

Q: How long does it take to become proficient in template design?
A: After completing CN-DES-001, expect 2-3 months of regular practice to become proficient with basic templates. Advanced proficiency requires 6-12 months of experience and CN-DES-002.

Q: Are certification exams difficult?
A: Exams are practical and test real-world skills. Pass rates are approximately 75% for first-time test takers. Thorough preparation and hands-on experience are key to success.

Q: Can I retake training courses?
A: Yes. Additional training sessions can be purchased. Returning participants receive 25% discount on standard courses.

Q: How do I access the practice environment?
A: Practice environment credentials are provided during training. Access is typically 30 days; extensions available upon request.