Using the Upload Plug-in to Save Template Packages Locally

If you decide you want to use a different method (say FTP) than an upload page to move your templates to a host application server or the Document Services server, you can still create a template package using the upload plug-in. You have two options for doing so, each with different advantages. You can:

  1. Save a template package in the same directory as the template. This has the following advantages:

    • Saving locally is an option on the Upload menu.

    • The template package has the same base file name as the template, but has a .hdpkg (HotDocs Package) file extension. This, and the fact that package save location is in the same folder as where the template is stored make it clear which template the template package is associated with.
  1. Save your template packages to a "local upload site." The has the advantage of producing the same output as when a package is uploaded to a host application web server.

Saving a Template Package in the Same Directory as the Template

When you want to save a template package locally, the simplest solution is to use the Save Locally option on the right-click Upload menu to save the template package in the same folder as the template.

To save a template package in the same directory as the template:

  1. In the left hand (library) column of HotDocs Developer, right-click a template; then click Upload > Save Locally.
  2. On the Save Locally page, you can click the down arrow to see the file names of the files in the template package just created. When you are finished, click Save Locally.
  3. To view the template package at its saved location, on the Properties tab of HotDocs Developer, click the link under File path and locate the template package. The template package has the same base file name as the template, but has a .hdpkg (HotDocs Package) file extension.

Saving a Template Package to a "Local" Upload Site

When you want to save a template package locally, but you want the same output as when you create a package to upload to a host application web server, you can save the package to a local upload site.

To save your template package to a local upload site:

  1. In the left hand (library) column of HotDocs Developer, right-click a template; then click Upload > Edit Upload Sites.
  2. Click Add; then type a Site Name for your local storage area.
  3. In the URL field, type the full path of an existing local directory (or shared network directory) where you want to save your template packages.
  4. Click OK; then click Close.
  5. Enable a template for uploading to your local upload site by doing the following:
    1. Right-click a template; then click Test in Browser before clicking either JavaScript or Silverlight.
    2. On the message that appears, click Enable; then on the Answer File dialog, click Cancel.

If this template has already been enabled, the Enable window does not appear; click Cancel.

  1. Right-click the template you just enabled; then click Upload before clicking the name of your local upload site.
  2. On the HotDocs Upload page, you can click the down arrow to see the file names of the files in the template package just created. When you are finished, click Upload; then click OK.
  3. To view the template package at its saved location, open Windows Explorer and navigate to your local upload site. The template package has a .pkg file extension, and the manifest has a .xml extension. Both have the same GUID as their base file name.