Host Application Use Workflow

As explained in Integrating with HotDocs Cloud Services, a host application is characterized by several features and types of interaction with Cloud Services. These features are described in more detail in this and subsequent topics.

A basic system overview, comprising HotDocs Cloud Services, template authors, your host application, and end users, might follow the basic outline below:

  1. A template developer uses HotDocs Developer software to create a HotDocs template.

  2. The template developer uses the Cloud Upload plug-in (from within HotDocs Developer) to package and publish this template to a Cloud Services host application, where that template package is managed and stored.

  3. The host application presents end users with a way to select one of the available templates.

  4. When an end user wishes to fill out an interview and/or generate a document, they select a template from within the host application.

  5. The host application requests an interview for that template from Cloud Services. If the specified template has not previously been cached by Cloud Services, the host application sends the template along with the request.

  6. In response, the host application receives the information necessary to present the interview, and conducts the interview with the user.

  7. Answers (user-entered data) resulting from the end user's interview is made available to the host application.

  8. The host application requests from Cloud Services an assembled document based on those answers.

  9. The host application then does with the assembled document whatever is desired, whether that includes delivery to the end user, inception or continuation of a workflow, etc.

The following topics delve into these features and areas of functionality in greater depth.