Save an Answer File During Assembly

While assembling a document, you can save the answers you have entered. This allows you to save your work and perhaps start a different assembly without closing the assembly window. Saving answers also allows you to use the information you enter with other templates, thus saving you time.

To save answers during assembly

  1. At the HotDocs library window, select a template and begin assembling the document. (See Assemble a Text or Form Document.)
  2. At the assembly window, click the Save Answers button. If you are using an existing answer file, the new answers are saved. If you are using a new answer file, the Save Answer File dialog box appears where you can perform any of the following tasks:
To Do This
Enter the file name At the File name field, enter a name. When you click OK, the answer file will be saved to the default Answers folder and a reference to it will be added to Answer File Manager.

To save the answers to a location other than the default Answers folder, click the Browse button and navigate to the location.
Enter the title that identifies the answer file in Answer File Manager At the Title field, enter a name or accept the suggestion HotDocs makes.
Add information to help identify the file At the Description field, type notes about the answer file's purpose or contents. (The description will appear at the Properties tab of the Answer File Manager. When searching for specific answer files, you can search for text in the description.)
Save the answer file so it is compatible with versions of HotDocs earlier than HotDocs 2009 Select HotDocs 2005-2008 answer file. (See Compatibility of HotDocs 11 Files with Earlier Versions of HotDocs.)

See Introduction: Use Answer Management for information on using Windows Explorer instead of Answer File Manager.

The Save Answers button may be disabled because the template provider wants to prevent the answer file from being altered. You can assemble a document using new answers, but when you close the assembly window, the new answers are automatically discarded.