The script for this week is going to be another request by a customer. It is a good example of how to search for patterns in HTML and replace the content matching that pattern. A common task when converting an HTML document is trying to get indented paragraphs to indent at the same level. This is especially problematic when the document contains numbered paragraphs that are not hanging (such as a legal outline.) Dealing with this case isn’t exactly trivial in HTML, as it often imports with a set number of non-breaking spaces to create the indent. Unless you’re using a monospace font, the text will not perfectly align, and the outline will not look the same for every number. The best solution is to remove the non-breaking spaces, and wrap the lead-in text (the “(a)”, or “1.”, or “Section 1.”, etc) with a inline tag, using the display type “inline-block”. This, combined with a fixed width and “nowrap” properties, allows us to add a block of space that is a fixed width into a paragraph, so our lead-in text takes up exactly the right amount of space.

So far, every script we’ve explored has been a hook of some sort. They attach themselves to new or existing menu icons or are triggered by other functions being run. What if you want something to run on application start? Legato supports this through the Application Initialize script. On program start, GoFiler will always run the ApplicationStartup.ls script. This script file is the one that’s responsible for running every other script in the extensions folder. This allows users to create their own custom startup routines that are run before literally anything else.

Last week, we created a way to create template files for test filing XBRL in GoFiler. We also designed a method to open and edit them easily. Now it’s time to add the next level of functionality to this project: a script that allows us to test file XFR files with a single button press. This script will create a pair of new folders in the same directory as the XFR file: “Automated Test File” and “Automated Test Archive”. The first folder will contain the most recent test filing, while the latter will contain a copy of every test filing submitted to the SEC just in case it’s needed for future reference.

This week our blog will focus on another common task that can be automated with GoFiler. When working on an XBRL file, test filing it with the SEC is very routine. GoFiler can validate it, but there is no substitute for pushing it up to the SEC to see if it will pass or fail a test filing. Right now, to test file an XBRL file, a project must be created, and the XFR file must be exported to an XBRL fileset. Then the files should be attached to the project. Then you need to attach a dummy HTML or TXT file onto the project as a primary document before finally test filing it. This whole process can take 3-4 minutes . While that doesn’t sound like a lot, it can be annoying to have to do it over and over again while working on multiple filings. Using Legato, however, we can streamline this process down to a single button press.