BI Publisher is one of JD Edwards’ most flexible tools, allowing users to transform raw data into polished, professional documents that can be printed, emailed, or distributed automatically. At INFOCUS, Lisa Tran shared a practical overview of how organizations can harness BI Publisher to simplify reporting, support multiple languages, and enhance document delivery. 

What is BI Publisher? 

At its core, BI Publisher takes XML output from JD Edwards’ Universal Batch Engine (UBE) and merges it with customizable templates built in Microsoft Word. This lets users replace standard, rigid reports with attractive documents formatted to business needs—such as invoices, purchase orders, cycle counts, and customer statements. 

Templates are created in RTF (Rich Text Format) using a Word add-in. Once defined, they can be tied to specific versions of UBEs through report definitions. From there, BI Publisher can generate PDFs, emails, or printouts, giving users much more flexibility than traditional UBE reports. 

Building Templates and Report Definitions 

The process starts with a blank RTF file to force XML output. That XML becomes the foundation for your template design. Using Word’s BI Publisher add-in, fields from the XML file can be dragged into the document to create tables, headers, footers, and repeating groups. 

Tran emphasized practical shortcuts, like using the “All Fields” feature to quickly populate every data element into a Word document, then trimming down to only the needed fields. Formatting tools allow users to control date and number formats, apply European standards (such as switching from U.S. commas and periods to French formats), and even embed conditional logic. 

Supporting Multiple Languages 

For global organizations, BI Publisher supports multi-language output. By leveraging the address book language settings, reports can print in the customer’s preferred language. Vocabulary overrides in JD Edwards let you redefine translations, ensuring invoices or disclaimers display correctly across different regions. 

Tran noted that when switching profiles (e.g., to French), XML labels also change language. While this requires remapping template fields, the underlying ID numbers remain consistent, helping maintain accuracy. 

Advanced Features: Conditional Formatting and Dynamic Delivery 

BI Publisher isn’t just about making reports look good—it can also help teams work smarter. 

• Conditional Formatting: Highlight fields based on thresholds, such as marking variances in red if they exceed a set percentage. 
• Dynamic Email Distribution: Instead of hardcoding recipients, BI Publisher can pull customer email addresses from the data itself, burst reports into multiple versions, and send tailored PDFs to each recipient automatically. 
• Printer Mapping: Reports can be routed to different printers based on version or department, streamlining operational workflows. 

Users can also embed hyperlinks into templates, allowing PDF recipients to click directly to websites or portals, extending the value of the report beyond static information. 

Best Practices for BI Publisher 

Tran shared several tips from her real-world implementations: 

• Iterate in development first before promoting templates into production. 
• Use tables for alignment—splitting and merging cells provides cleaner layouts. 
• Version control matters—some teams prefer renaming files with version numbers, while others use dates. 
• Test with previewing often—what looks good in Word doesn’t always render as expected in PDF. 

Why BI Publisher Matters 

For JD Edwards users, BI Publisher is a powerful way to elevate reporting, reduce manual formatting, and automate delivery. Whether you’re sending invoices in multiple languages, customizing financial statements, or embedding dynamic fields into PDFs, BI Publisher can streamline your reporting processes while improving professionalism and accuracy. 

As Tran emphasized, once you understand the basics—template creation, XML mapping, and report definitions—you can unlock advanced features that make BI Publisher an indispensable tool for your JDE environment. 

Want more? 

Explore more content and resources to help you get the most from your JD Edwards investment: 

• Be sure to check out the INFOCUS 2025 Event Hub (coming soon) for presentation slides – available exclusively to Quest members. 
• Explore the JD Edwards Orchestrator Strategic Content Center for more Quest-exclusive resources. 
• Visit the Quest Learn Library for blogs, how-to demos, and on-demand sessions. 
• Connect with peers in one of our Quest JD Edwards Community User Groups to swap stories, ask questions, and share tips with other users facing the same challenges. 

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