Overview
This article is intended to assist you in supporting your firm’s house style in Xplan.
Smart styling is the ability for a firm to personalise your artefacts to reflect your corporate branding.
Styling is controlled within the parameters that we are able to support within our suite of products. This means that firms may have to make some adjustments in order to utilise this functionality.
Best practice recommendations are made to ensure that firms obtain an optimal and presentable document. This by no means is Iress choosing to reduce functionality, it is to ensure that outputs are supportable, scalable and provide firms with the best possible outputs.
Smart Styling pages now include three areas:
- Smart Styling Configuration Page - overall formatting of font, colours, position & tables
- Smart Styling - Letter Generator - to support the Letter Generator
- Valuation Reports - to support the 3 valuation reports
In addition to the pages listed above there are a number of additional areas that require updating and these have been listed within the content.
Many reports have options to include/exclude front and/or back covers. Tables can be formatted to match your firm’s brand colours.
The styling is based on the client adviser’s primary user group. This means the styling is set at user group level and all styled documents will reflect the branding set at the adviser’s primary user group, regardless of who is generating the document.
If you are on an Essentials site, your implementation team will have created your branding. If anything changes you can request the update via the Iress Connect Portal > Essential Site Services and use one of the tiles below:
Single site administrators can update the styling directly in Xplan.
As always, though, we are open to feedback if anything needs to be clarified or included.
Key benefits
- Set branding once for letters and reports
- Brings consistency to your letters and reports
- Based on the adviser’s primary group settings for consistency
- Exclude front and back covers to accommodate your own report packs, save paper/reduce waste
- Reduce stationery expenses by generating letterhead directly from Xplan
- Add a bespoke front or back cover (specific reports)
Why should I use it?
- Simple & easy to use
- Only needs to be set once at group level
- No need to understand complex coding in Xplan (Xmerge)
- Consistency of brand
- Easily identifiable branding
- Uses RGB or Hex colour codes
The following templates have been smart styled:
|
Report type |
Report name |
|
Valuation reports |
Valuation since inception Valuation between dates Valuation at specified date |
|
Reports |
Individual fact find Enhanced fact find Mortgage fact find Corporate fact find Financial review report |
|
Xtools reports |
Xtools - Cashflow report Xtools - Annuity calculator Xtools - At retirement Xtools - Lifestyle goals Xtools - Mortgage affordability Xtools - Retirement funding Xtools - Savings and investments |
|
Letter Generator |
Annuity Asset Insurance No plan Retirement |
|
Invoice |
Invoice |
|
ID Verification |
ID and V |
|
Tables |
Tables within the above reports |
Summary of site default settings vs styled example used in this document
|
Option |
Type |
Default Colour |
Size |
Alignment |
Styled example in this document (Brand 2025) |
|
Font |
Calibri |
Black |
10 |
Segoe UI |
|
|
Logo |
Right aligned |
Right aligned |
|||
|
Titles |
Light blue |
36 |
Left aligned |
Navy blue |
|
|
Subtitles |
Light blue |
20 |
Left aligned |
Vibrant purple |
|
|
Confidential |
Medium blue |
16 |
Left aligned |
Warm magenta |
|
|
Prepared for/by |
Medium blue |
12 |
Left aligned |
Vibrant purple |
|
|
Heading 1 |
Medium blue |
20 |
Left aligned |
Navy blue |
|
|
Heading 2 |
Medium blue |
16 |
Left aligned |
Vibrant purple |
|
|
Heading 3 |
Medium blue |
12 |
Left aligned |
Warm magenta |
|
|
Table |
IressDefault |
Greys |
Purple & green |
Smart Styling Configuration Page - default settings #1
Smart Styling Configuration Page - default settings #2
-
Valuation report templates
|
Valuation report templates |
Format |
Front Cover |
Back Cover |
||
|
Standard / Bespoke |
Option to inc/excl |
Standard / Bespoke |
Option to inc/excl |
||
|
Valuation since inception |
Landscape |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Valuation between dates |
Landscape |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Valuation at specified date |
Landscape |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
The above valuation reports share the same front and back landscape covers with the title Valuation Report.
The bespoke text relates to the ‘Prepared for, Prepared By, Date, Adviser, Contact details’.
Default settings
Front cover - default
Valuation since inception
Valuation between dates:
Valuation at specified date
Front cover - styled
Front cover - bespoke
Back cover - default
Back cover - styled
Back cover - bespoke
-
Report templates
|
Report templates |
Format |
Front Cover |
Back Cover |
||
|
Standard / Bespoke |
Option to inc/excl |
Standard / Bespoke |
Option to inc/excl |
||
|
Individual fact find |
Portrait |
✔ |
x |
✔ |
x |
|
Enhanced fact find |
Portrait |
✔ |
x |
✔ |
x |
|
Mortgage fact find |
Portrait |
✔ |
x |
✔ |
x |
|
Corporate fact find |
Portrait |
✔ |
x |
✔ |
x |
|
Financial review report |
Portrait |
✔ |
x |
✔ |
x |
A default front cover will be generated for all of the above reports.
If a bespoke front or back cover (eg. colour image and/or bespoke wording) has been stored as a doc note template against the user group’s category then it will be generated.
Front cover - default
Front cover - styled
Front cover - bespoke
Back cover - default
Individual fact find, Mortgage fact find, Financial review report
Back cover - styled
Back cover - bespoke
-
Xtools Report templates
|
Report templates |
Format |
Front Cover |
Back Cover |
||
|
Standard / Bespoke |
Option to inc/excl |
Standard / Bespoke |
Option to inc/excl |
||
|
Xtools - Cashflow report |
Portrait |
Standard |
x |
x |
x |
|
Xtools - Annuity calculator |
Landscape |
Standard |
x |
x |
x |
|
Xtools - At retirement |
Landscape |
Standard |
x |
x |
x |
|
Xtools - Lifestyle goals |
Landscape |
Standard |
x |
x |
x |
|
Xtools - Mortgage affordability |
Landscape |
Standard |
x |
x |
x |
|
Xtools - Retirement funding |
Landscape |
Standard |
x |
x |
x |
|
Xtools - Savings and investments |
Landscape |
Standard |
x |
x |
x |
Front cover - Cashflow default
Front cover - Cashflow styled
Front cover - Xtools default
Front cover - Xtools styled
-
Letter generator & invoice templates
Letter Generator styling is shared with Invoice.
|
Letter & invoice templates |
Format |
Logo |
Footer |
Invoice |
||
|
Position |
Option to inc/excl |
Bespoke |
Option to inc/excl |
Payment details |
||
|
Letter generator: Annuity Asset Insurance No plan Retirement |
Portrait |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
x |
|
Invoice |
Portrait |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Logo
Letter Generator has additional options to include/exclude the logo and also where to position it on the page (left, center or right). These options allow you to use your own headed stationery or print your firm’s branded letterhead.
This means you can have a logo on your reports but continue to use any existing letterhead stationery for letters and invoices.
Default: If the settings are left blank, the logo (stored in Xmerge Logo) will be included.
From address
You have the option to include/exclude your company address from the top right of the letter. The address needs to be stored against the adviser’s primary group.
Default: If the settings are left blank, the from address will be included if it is stored against the adviser’s primary group.
Signature settings
A signature image can be uploaded by individuals via My Preference > Email > Signature Options > Signature image.
Footer
A footer image needs to be stored at User Group level > Themes > Xmerge Logo 4 and the above setting, Footer image, saved as Yes.
Letter - default
Letter - styled
Invoice - default
Invoice - styled
-
ID Verification
|
Template |
Format |
Logo |
Footer |
||
|
Position** |
Option to inc/excl* |
Bespoke |
Option to inc/excl |
||
|
ID Verification |
Portrait |
✔ |
x |
x |
x |
Logo
*If a logo has been stored in User Group > Themes > Logo then it will be displayed on the ID verification document.
**The position of the logo is based on the selection made in Smart Styling > Letter Generator > Logo alignment.
ID&V - default
ID&V - styled
-
Location of source items
|
Item |
Storage location |
Document |
|
Logo |
User Group > Themes > Xmerge Logo |
All |
|
Front cover bespoke |
Hubs > Notes & documents > Template > Category = user group description > Glossy front page / landscape |
3 x val reports Fact finds Fincl Rev Rept |
|
Back cover bespoke |
Hubs > Notes & documents > Template > Category = user group description > Glossy back page / landscape |
3 x val reports Fact finds Fincl Rev Rept |
|
From address |
User > Key Details > Contact Details > Address |
Letter |
|
Signature image |
User > Email > Signature options > Signature image |
Letter |
|
Qualifications |
User > Key Details > Main > Employment > Qualifications |
Letter |
|
Job title |
User > Key Details > Main > Employment > Job title |
Letter |
|
Email & phone |
User/Adviser’s primary group > Contact details > preferred email & phone |
Letter |
|
Company name |
User Group > Key Details > Main > Group Details > Description |
Letter |
|
Footer |
User Group > Themes > Xmerge Logo 4 |
Letter Invoice |
|
Remittance advice |
User Group > Key Details > Main > Comments |
Invoice |
Table Format
The default table on Essentials and all new single sites is IressDefault.
It has a medium grey first row, a light grey last row and alternate row shading of very light grey.
However, tables can be styled to match your firm’s house style.
The styled table example used in this document is detailed below.
Create a table format
Only the following options have been included in the smart style Xmerge coding. Adding extra features to your table format will not be displayed in the reports generated.
Borders
If using borders we recommend either pale colours or a small style eg. 0.05pt. This will be easier on the eye and more economical when printing.
Tip: Use the ‘Refresh Preview’ button to check the updates display as you expect.
Shading
Add shading to the first and/or last rows rows to enhance your reports.
Currently, the Xmerge template is coded to automatically add shading to alternate rows in the table as this is useful when there are no borders.
If you do not wish to have alternate rows shaded you will need to ensure that the ‘Alt. Rows’ field is updated with the Hex code for white #ffffff, as in the screenshot below.
Fonts
If required you can add a font colour to the first and last rows to match or contract with any shading. If you have selected dark shading you may wish to change the font colour to white.
Alternatively you can leave the font colour as the default black and select the Bold and Italic settings instead.
Rows
It is best practice to leave the height and alignment of the rows as Default settings as the Xmerge code will cater for the correct alignment eg. text will be left aligned, currency/valuations will be right aligned.
Extended styling (optional)
If you do not update the Extended Styling sections all of the tables in your smart styled report will display in line with your standard Table Format settings.
The settings in the Extended Styling section will only be applied to ‘portfolio reports’ used in Xmerge templates.
Currently the following reports contain portfolio report data:
- Valuation since inception
- Financial review report
The Valuation since inception report includes the following 2 sections, taken directly from Portfolios:
The Financial review report may display up to 4 (one each for client, partner, joint and all) of the following Asset Class Breakdown tables:
Extended styling used in this document
The following extended styling settings have been added to demonstrate how they are displayed in the report.
Borders
Shading
Fonts
Troubleshooting / FAQs
- How do I change the type and size of the font?
Navigate to User Group > Smart typing > Smart Stying Configuration Page > Overall Styling and Main Text panels.
- How do I update the table format?
Navigate to Admin > Site > templates > Merge template > Table format > Add or Edit.
