Work with Answer File Manager
Answer File Manager helps you organize answer files, much like a HotDocs library helps you organize templates and clause libraries.
When you save answer files, they are added to Answer File Manager, where you can organize them and modify the file properties. You can also view an answer file's history—a list of dates and times the answer file was used, including the template with which it was used. Finally, the Answer File Manager lets you preview the answers currently saved in an answer file.
By default, answer libraries are saved in binary format, which does not support the use of international characters. If you are using a binary answer library and you either add an answer file that contains foreign characters in its properties to the library, or you change the properties or an existing file to include foreign characters, HotDocs will prompt you to either convert the answer library to XML format or manually remove the characters from the file's properties. If you choose to convert the answer library to XML format, you will have two answer libraries—one that works with HotDocs 2008 and earlier and one that works with HotDocs 2009 and later. (A third option allows you to keep the library in its current, non-XML format, but HotDocs replaces characters that are not compatible with your system's default language with the closest approximation available. Usually this means HotDocs will use question marks or square box characters.)
To display Answer File Manager
- At the template library, click the Answer File Manager button. The Answer File Manager dialog box appears.
- Complete any of the tasks described in the following table:
| To | Do This |
| Create a new, empty answer file | Click the  New button. (See Create a New Answer File.) |
| Add an existing answer file to the library | Click the  Add button. (See Add an Answer File to Answer File Manager.)
To add multiple files one at a time, press Ctrl or Shift to select several files. |
| Remove a reference to an answer file and optionally delete the actual file from disk | Select the answer file, then click  Remove. |
| Simultaneously copy an answer file you receive to the Answers folder and add it to the answer library | Click  Import. The Import Answer File Name dialog box appears, where you can browse to the answer file and select it. When you click OK, the file is copied to the Answers folder and added to the library. |
| Sort answer files in alphanumeric order, based on answer file titles | Select a folder, then click the  Sort button. The contents of the folder are reorganized. |
| Search for a specific answer file | Select Find, then type the text from the answer file's title or description for which you are searching in the text field. Only files that have matching text in their title or description are shown. |
| View the answers currently saved in an answer file | Select the answer file, then click the Contents tab.
In the Contents tab, you can sort the columns by clicking the column headings. |
| View the history of when the selected answer file was used to assemble various templates | Select the answer file, then click the Properties tab. |
| Change the title, path, file name, description, or format of an answer file | Select the answer file, then click the  Properties button and make the necessary changes.
Changing the file path does not change the location of the actual answer file. If you change the file path without moving the actual file to the new location on disk, that answer file will not be accessible. |
| Add a folder so that you can better organize groups of answer files | Click the Add button, then select Folder at the Type drop-down field. (See Add, Modify, and Delete Folders in Answer File Manager.) |
| Modify a folder's title or description | Select the folder, then click Properties. (See Add, Modify, and Delete Folders in Answer File Manager.) |
| Delete a folder | Select the folder, then click Remove. HotDocs asks what you want to do with any answer files within the folder. (See Add, Modify, and Delete Folders in Answer File Manager.) |
| Move an answer file into a folder | Double-click the folder to open it, then select the answer file and drag it to the folder. |
| Change the format of an answer file so it is compatible with a specific version of HotDocs | Select the answer file, and then click  Properties. The Item Properties dialog box appears where you can select HotDocs 2005-2008 answer file. (See Compatibility of HotDocs 11 Files with Earlier Versions of HotDocs for details.) |
| Use Windows Explorer to access answer files instead of Answer File Manager | Change the setting at the HotDocs Options dialog box. (See Manage Answer Files.) |