A4 portrait. Eleven sheets in a full report: cover, index (TOC), summary, body, quote, diagram, table, info box (standard + playful), sources, attachments, back. Every body page shares a markdown-style running header and hex pagination. Filled "Acme BV" example below the empty template; mix-and-match the page types your report actually needs.
How we turn 142 spreadsheets into one auditable register.
Acme currently has 142 Excel files whose logic is in three people's heads. Two have retired. With OpenRegister, four roles each get their own view, schema validation, and an audit trail out of the box. Hardware stays on your own Nextcloud.
142 spreadsheets, in 9 folders, managed by 4 people. No version control. Three people know which field is optional; two have retired.
The urgency isn't an audit, it's holidays. If Henk is out, nobody knows which column has the right BSN format.
"We just made an Excel of it because the system we had wasn't keeping up." — Henk, customer-register manager
One register, five entities (customer, contract, invoice, contact person, location). Schema validation, audit trail, roles per entity.
Schema sprint (weeks 1–2). Import + audit (weeks 3–4). Roles + UI (weeks 5–6). Live (week 7).
Three quotes from interviews at Acme. Italic body, KNVB-orange left bar, attribution below in Plex Mono.
“We just made an Excel of it because the system we had wasn't keeping up.” Henk · customer-register manager
“Three people know which field is optional; two have retired. When I'm on holiday nobody can onboard a customer without calling Henk.” Marleen · IT lead
“An audit trail has been an issue here for a year. Nobody wants to fix it because that means phasing out 142 spreadsheets at the same time.” Anonymous · finance team
Seven chapters, one back page. For each chapter, what it covers and where to find it.
Most consultant diagrams fall into one of three patterns. Each pattern below, with arrows that always run hex-edge to hex-edge (no floating lines).
Time axis where something shrinks or consolidates. 142 spreadsheets → 5 schemas in a staging bridge → 1 register. Use when there's one direction and a clear endpoint.
FIG 01 · LinearOne source in the middle, multiple consumers around it. The register is authoritative; CRM, invoices, contact, and locations are views, not copies. Use for architecture or integration overviews.
FIG 02 · Hub-and-spokeFrom one decision point, two outcomes. The valid? hex (KNVB orange, the must-read colour) splits to accept or queue. Use for what-do-you-do-when-X questions.
FIG 03 · BranchedSeven weeks in six blocks. Owner per row, fixed price through week 4.
| # | Action | When | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Schema working session, lock down five entities | wk 1 | Ruben |
| 02 | Pilot import: three heaviest spreadsheets | wk 2 | Mark |
| 03 | Go/no-go based on the pilot | wk 3 | Marleen |
| 04 | Import the remaining 139 spreadsheets | wk 4–5 | Mark |
| 05 | Set up roles and UI | wk 6 | Ruben |
| 06 | Live + warm handover | wk 7 | Marleen |
Four kinds of margin. A note is background, a tip is a quick win, a warning is a risk, an important is something you shouldn't miss.
Same four margins, different execution. The hex carries the border; the card runs all the way to the paper edge.
Standards, documentation, and earlier migrations this approach builds on.
Three steps, one owner per step, one date. No "we can offer", concrete moves that can happen now.
CTO, Conduction
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{{ One paragraph, two to three sentences. Person-voice; explains the situation, the move, and what changes. }}
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{{ One claim per sentence. Under 16 words. Active voice. }}
{{ One paragraph framing why these quotes are here. }}
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“{{ Quote attributed to an anonymous source. }}” Anonymous · {{ context }}
{{ Short framing of the document, one or two sentences. }}
{{ One paragraph introducing the diagram patterns used in this report. }}
{{ One paragraph describing the sequential progression A → B → C. }}
FIG {{ NN }} · Linear{{ One paragraph describing the hub-and-spoke relationship. }}
FIG {{ NN }} · Hub-and-spoke{{ One paragraph describing the decision and outcomes. }}
FIG {{ NN }} · Branched{{ One short paragraph framing the table. }}
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| 01 | {{ Row text }} | {{ when }} | {{ owner }} |
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{{ One paragraph framing the four variants. }}
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{{ role }}, Conduction