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Formats

A format is a variable or field property you set to define the pattern HotDocs uses to format answers or other values in assembled documents; for example, you can use the 'LIKE THIS' text format to capitalize all letters in a text string, the 'nine' number format to spell out a numeral, or the pattern 'dd/mm/yyyy' to format a date value as text.

The following tables describe the set of commonly used formats HotDocs provides you by default when you install Author. You can manage the commonly used formats in the My Formats area of the HotDocs Options dialog box and access the list of commonly used formats in both the Format drop down in the HotDocs Field Editor and the Behavior tab of Component Studio (when editing a component than you can format).

If you need formats other than the ones HotDocs provides, you can create your own.

Text Formats

You can use text formats to format placeholder fields that reference Text variables, Multi Select variables, and computations in which you are working with text. HotDocs Author includes the following commonly used text formats by default:

Text Format Template User's Answer How Answer is Formatted in Document
LIKE THIS Marianne Stevens MARIANNE STEVENS
Like This Marianne Stevens Marianne Stevens
Like this Marianne Stevens Marianne stevens
like this Marianne Stevens marianne stevens
Like a This our client, Marianne Stevens, is the Plaintiff in the case Our client, Marianne Stevens, is the Plaintiff in the case

Number Formats

You can use number formats to format placeholder fields that reference Number variables and computations in which you are working with numbers. HotDocs Author includes the following commonly used number formats by default:

Number Format How Answer is Recorded During Interview How Answer is Formatted in Document
9999 1,234 1234
9,999 1,234 1,234
9,999.00 1234 1234.50 (requires decimal places property set to 2) 1,234.00 1,234.50
9.9 87.6 87.6
09 4 78 04 78
9 1/8 2.3 2 1/4
9th 23 23rd
nine 1,278 0 one thousand two hundred seventy-eight no
NINE 1,278 0 ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-EIGHT NO
ninth 782 seven hundred eighty-second
Nine Dollars and Twelve Cents 5.36 Five Dollars and Thirty-Six Cents

none

1,278 0 one thousand two hundred seventy-eight none

zero

1,278 0 one thousand two hundred seventy-eight zero
IX 1234 MCCXXXIV

Many of these formats can change depending on whether you assign decimal places to the answer. How many decimal places you assign also affects the outcome.

Date Formats

You can use date formats to format placeholder fields that reference Date variables. HotDocs Author includes the following commonly used date formats by default:

Date Format Template User's Answer How Answer is Formatted in Document
Mmmm d, yyyy nov 6, 2000 November 6, 2000
d Mmmm yyyy November 6, 2000 6 November 2000
DD MMM YYYY November 6, 2000 6 NOV 2000
m/d/yyyy November 6, 2000 11/6/2000
mm/dd/yyyy November 6, 2000 11/06/2000
dth day of Mmmm, yyyy November 6, 2000 6th day of November, 2000
Dy day of Mmmm, yyyy November 6, 2000 Sixth day of November, 2000
Mmmm Dy, Yr November 6, 2000 November Sixth, Two Thousand
Mmmm dth November 6, 2000 November 6th
Dddd November 6, 2000 Monday
Dddd, Mmmm d, yyyy November 6, 2000 Monday, November 6, 2000

If you need a date format other than the commonly used ones listed above, see Custom Date Formats.

True/False Formats

You can use True/False formats to format placeholder fields that reference True/False variables. HotDocs Author includes the following commonly used true/false formats by default:

True/False Format Template User's Answer How Answer is Formatted in Document
true/false Yes
No
true
false
yes/no Yes
No
yes
no

List Formats

You can use list formats to format placeholder fields that reference a Multi Select variable or a list of answers a repeated dialog gathers in an interview. HotDocs Author includes the following commonly used list formats by default:

List Format How TWO Answers are formatted in Document How THREE Answers are formatted in Document
a, b and c apples and bananas apples, bananas and cherries
a, b AND c apples AND bananas apples, bananas AND cherries
a, b, and c apples and bananas apples, bananas, and cherries
a, b or c apples or bananas apples, bananas or cherries
a, b, or c apples or bananas apples, bananas, or cherries
a; b; and c apples and bananas apples; bananas; and cherries
a, b apples, bananas apples, bananas, cherries

If you need to change the capitalization of a template user's answer, you can use a field-specific format and/or marker field. Individual answers in the list are placed into the assembled document as the template user types them during an interview or as you have otherwise specified for each variable.