Lesson 9: Test Assemble the Document

Overview

This lesson teaches you how to test assemble a document while you are automating a template.

At any point during template development, you can test all or part of the template to make sure it is assembling correctly. Test assembling a document can help you pinpoint trouble spots in the template without requiring you to close the template and assemble it from the library.

When you test assemble a document, HotDocs displays the same HotDocs assembly window users will see. At any time during test assembly, you can return to the template, make the desired changes, and test assemble the document again. The test assembly window will adjust to show your changes.

Start the Tutorial

If you are continuing immediately from Lesson 8, skip the instructions for opening the template and proceed to “Test Assemble the Document.”

If you closed the template at the end of Lesson 8, complete the following steps.

To open the tutorial template

  1. Open your word processor and click the hotdocs00224.jpgHotDocs button, located on your word processor’s toolbar. The My Test Templates library appears.

    If the My Test Templates library does not appear, choose Open Library (File menu), select the library in the default Libraries folder (for example, My Test Templates.hdl), and click Open.

  2. Select Employment Agreement and click edittemplate00227.jpgEdit. The template appears, ready for you to edit.

Test Assemble the Document

You will now test assemble the template.

To test the Employment Agreement template

  1. At the template window, click the testassemble00535.jpgTest Assemble button in the HotDocs toolbar.

    A test assembly window appears, showing a list of variables in the left pane. These questions appear in what are called default dialogs. Each question appears by itself in the right pane.

    If you saved your answers in a test answer file in Lesson 5, you will notice that answers you have entered are now merged into the answer fields. If you want to use a new answer file for this portion of the tutorial, click the newanswer.jpgNew Answers button.

  2. At each dialog, enter an answer and click the next00542.jpgNext button to go to the next dialog.

    Notice that each default dialog contains a single variable, or question. In the next lesson, you will group multiple variables together in a custom dialog. Presenting questions in groups (rather than individually) makes it easier for users to complete the interview.

  3. After you have provided all of the answers, click the Document Preview tab. A preview of the assembled document appears, allowing you to make sure answers were merged correctly.
  4. Choose Close (File menu) to close the test assembly window. You are returned to the template.

Conclusion

You are now finished with this lesson where you learned how to test assemble a document.

If you do not want to go on to Lesson 10 at this time, click the HotDocs close00545.jpgSave and Close button to close the template. Then exit HotDocs.