Rename Components in a Single Template

If you have a template that contains several components that must be renamed, you should use Template Manager, which changes the name in both the template file and the component file. It also updates any references to the component if it is used by other components. (See Rename Components Across Multiple Component Files.)

You can rename variables, dialogs, example formats, merge text values, dialog elements, and so forth. When you rename a component, it is changed everywhere it is used in the component file. For example, renaming a variable will update all references to it in dialogs, scripts, and prompts. However, you must update references to the component in the template text itself. This may include removing the old variable field and inserting a new variable field.

How you rename components depends on the component type. Main components can be renamed in both the template file and the component file; however supplemental components (such as example formats, patterns, and so forth) can only be renamed using Component Manager.

To rename a component while editing the template

  1. Place the cursor in the variable field and click the Variable Field button. The Variable Field dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Edit Component button. The Variable Editor appears.
  3. In the Variable name field, type the new variable name and click OK. HotDocs verifies that you want to rename the component.
  4. Click Yes. The variable component is renamed, and the Variable Field dialog box appears again.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Remove any other references to the variable in the template and insert the new variable field. (See Insert a Variable Field in a Text Template.)

To rename a single component using Component Manager

  1. Open Component Manager. (See Open and Close Component Manager.) The Component Manager window appears.
  2. Select the component from the Components list and click the Rename Component button. The Rename Component dialog box appears.
  3. Type the new component name in the New name field and click Rename. HotDocs changes the name throughout the component file.
  4. In the template, replace old component references with the new component. (See Insert a Variable Field in a Text Template.)

To rename multiple components using Component Manager

  1. Open Component Manager. (See Open and Close Component Manager.) The Component Manager window appears.
  2. Select the components from the Components list and click the Rename Component button. The Rename Components dialog box appears.
  3. In the Existing Component Names column, select the components you want to rename.
  4. Type the new name in the New Component Names column.
  5. Optionally, to create multiple like-named components at once (for example, to rename two variables that use the word Plaintiff so the new names instead use Client), type the existing word or phrase (i.e. Plaintiff) in the Replace field, and then type the new word or phase (i.e. Client) in the with field, and click Apply. Where applicable, HotDocs changes all the names in the New Component Names column.
  6. Click Rename to rename the components.
  7. In the template, replace old component references with the new components. (See Insert a Variable Field in a Text Template.)

HotDocs lists all the components that were renamed in the Renamed Components list of Component Manager. To view the full list of components again, click the Components drop-down button and choose All Components.