View the Template in Markup View

Moving between Markup View and Developer View is supported in Microsoft Word RTF templates only. In Microsoft Word DOCX templates you can click the Create Markup button to open a Markup document in a new Word window.

As you automate a Microsoft Word RTF template and create within it variable and instruction fields, the template can be complicated to read and understand, especially to someone unfamiliar with automation. At times, however, you may need for a subject matter expert to review the text of the template for accuracy or to make changes or edits. To make the template easier for a non-HotDocs user to review, you can change the formatting of the template to Markup View and then provide the reviewer a copy of it.

When displaying markup, HotDocs replaces variables and instructions in the template with markup fields, which include markers (such as brackets) and a name. How the resulting markup field looks depends on the type of field it is:

  • Variables: By default, variables are marked using brackets. If a comment is assigned to a variable, it will be used as the field name. If no comment is assigned, HotDocs will use either the variable's title or name.
  • IF, REPEAT and SPAN instruction blocks: By default, IF, REPEAT, and SPAN instruction blocks are marked using brackets. If a comment is assigned to these text blocks, the comment can be merged in the field label. If no comment is assigned, HotDocs will simply merge the field markers around the text block. The instruction text can appear as an annotated footnote or endnote (depending on your preferences). (By default, SPAN instructions are not included in the Markup View. You can select an option to display them, however.)
  • INSERT instructions: HotDocs will merge the file name of the template you are inserting.

All other instructions (such as ASK, LANGUAGE, etc.) will be hidden when the template is changed to Markup View.

Once you finish automating a template and switch to Markup View, you can save the template as a document file and provide a copy of it to the reviewer. Please note, however, that when you (or the reviewer) are viewing a marked up template (in HotDocs), you cannot edit existing variable fields or instructions—you must switch back to Developer View to edit those fields.

To view a template in Markup View

  1. Define the Markup View options you want to use in the template. (See Specify How Documents Should Be Marked Up.)
  2. Edit the template you want to mark up. (See Edit a Template.)
  3. Click the drop-down menu below the HotDocs button.
  4. Select the Markup View option in the drop-down menu. The template changes to show the marked up template.

To view a developer version of the template again, click the Developer View option.

You can also view a marked up version of your assembled document. See View an Assembled Document in Markup View for details.

Sometimes as you automate a template, you create Computation variables that perform some function, rather than merge values. To keep these types of Computation variables from appearing in a marked up document, enter NONE as the variable's title.

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