Creating a Clause Library at the HotDocs Library

At a template library, you can create a clause library that contains any number of clauses. You can assemble these clauses and add them to any word processor document. For example, users can select a clause library at the template library, provide any required information, and then either send the assembled clauses to a new document or paste the assembled document into an open document (perhaps another related document you have just finished assembling).

Storing sections of template text in clauses and then adding those clauses to a clause library makes it easy for the user to choose which text they will use in assembling a document. A clause library also provides a way for users to organize their clauses and view the properties of each individual clause.

Users can also preview clause text from the Preview tab of the clause library.

To create a clause library at a HotDocs template library

1. At the template library, select the folder in which you want the clause library to appear.
2. Click New Template.
3. Click the Type drop-down button and select a clause library option for the word processor you are using. Your options include Word DOCX Clause Library,Word RTF Clause Library, Word DOT Clause Library, and WordPerfect Clause Library.
4. In the File name field type a file name for the new template. If you decide to store the template somewhere other than the default template folder (as seen in the Target folder field), you can also Browse to the new destination. HotDocs adds the correct extension to the file name based on the type of text template you selected. HotDocs displays the full path of the currently selected template location in the Target folder field.  
5. Type a title for the clause library in the Title field (or accept the suggestion HotDocs makes).
6. Optionally, type a description in the Description field. The description appears when the user views the clause library's properties at the HotDocs template library.
7. To add an existing component file to the new template, you can select a component from the Shared component file drop-down list. If you do so, the component file  you choose is now shared between the new template and any other templates using that component file.
8. Click OK. HotDocs creates and opens the clause library.

When the clause library opens, notice that it does not contain any clauses yet. You must create the clauses that appear in the clause list in the clause library.

When you create a clause library in a HotDocs template library, HotDocs doesn't create a template file. However, HotDocs creates a component file (using the same file name as the clause library) to store information for components used in the clause library.

You can use a clause library to assemble any number of documents and you can insert a clause library into any template if you want to associate the clauses with a specific document.