This article is relevant if you are looking to extend and supply more data to NetSuite’s Advanced PDF technologies.

Background

Since 2015, I have written about our license-free Content Renderer Engine technologies. The tools were designed to supercharge advanced PDF technologies primarily by allowing you to create a data universe through a clever mechanism of defining linked saved searches.

The technology has been foundational for helping to solve many different NetSuite challenges. Of course, while being able to create beautifully branded customer-facing documents is standard, the ability to host web pages designed to collect ACH and Credit Card payments is another. Anywhere we need to create string output — such as XML files, flat files, or even drive other JavaScript libraries, such as Google Charts — is possible with a powerful content generator.

In 2015, when we invented the tool, NetSuite’s SuiteScript technologies only offered what is now version 1.0.  Thus, for the last 6 years, we continued to make the tool better as we solved client-specific requests, but we had to carry around a legacy and build various techniques to use SuiteScript 2.x against the SuteScritpt 1.0 JavaScript library. Many of our clients’ NetSuite Administrators use the tool day-to-day when they need to reach beyond NetSuite’s out-of-the-box capabilities.

Introducing Content Renderer Engine Version 2.0

Last month, I discussed our NetSuite SQL Query Tool designed to help administrators craft NetSuite SuiteQL (Structured Query Language) queries which finally opens a world beyond Saved Search to retrieve data.  With this new technology available, Boban D., Senior Technical Analyst, took on the task to rewrite our Content Renderer Engine into version 2.0 (CRE2) taking advantage of all of the firm’s learning in the last 6 years solving real-world concerns.

With this new CRE2 version, we consolidated all of our learning to offer up the following new capacities leveraging SuiteScript 2.x:

1. Saved Search OR SuiteQL: not only are you able to define linked Saved Searches, but you can also now join together SuiteQL SQL searches further expanding the ability to reach NetSuite tucked-away information. Say goodbye to the technique to create custom fields on records only to copy information from other records because NetSuite tools can’t reach that data element. Need the database to aggregate information to expose to your documents?  No worries.
2. Extensive Use of FreeMarker: most NetSuite Administrators are comfortable with FreeMarker as they were introduced to it with NetSuite Advanced PDF technologies. We leverage the FreeMarker template technology in every aspect of the new tool. What this means is that we can dynamically inject information where you want it. The most advanced use is to define your saved search and SQL linkages through markup.
3. Improved Development and Debugging: as you are defining your CRE2 profile (the fundamental mechanism to produce a data universe and output context), we allow you to lookup real records to provide you the syntax to the array of data elements that can be referenced.  We further provide clear debugging to help you see how your dynamic FreeMarker markup is accessing and producing meaningful information as you craft your data universe.
4. Improved Parameter Management: the CRE2 Profile is the target structure that does all the work. However, when executing the profile from different business situations, we provide a rich capacity to introduce parameters that can further give the designer more options as they solve their specific NetSuite challenge.
5. Content Distribution: all the mechanisms to distribute content via email is available including the intelligent linking to business records commonly accessed under the “Communications” tab.  In addition, supplying information to Solve for High Performance NetSuite Data Exports is naturally supported.
6. Side-by-Side with CRE Version 1.0: for our clients that are currently using CRE version 1.0, the new application runs perfectly fine side-by-side. There is no need to upgrade existing solutions that are in place doing day-to-day work. Going forward solutions can leverage version 2.0.

Content Renderer Engine 2.0 Video Demonstration (6:23)

To help you understand the technologies and to kickstart NetSuite Administrators that wish to work in a self-service fashion, the following video (6:23) will help produce orientation and training.

Get the Content Renderer Engine 2.0 Bundle

We supply all of our firm’s intellectual property free of charge to all our clients. The tools are really accelerators to solve common business challenges around the NetSuite platform. Our real value is our superior capacity to listen, design, craft, and produce NetSuite innovations.

If you found this article relevant, feel free to sign up for notifications to new articles as I post them. If you have a business challenge that you suspect can quickly be solved with our Content Renderer Engine 2.0 technologies, let’s have a conversation.

Marty Zigman

Holding all three official certifications, Marty is regarded as the top NetSuite expert and leads a team of senior professionals at Prolecto Resources, Inc. He is a former Deloitte & Touche CPA and has held CTO roles. For over 30 years, Marty has produced leadership in ERP, CRM and eCommerce business systems. Contact Marty to set up a conversation.

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