Enable Templates for Use With HotDocs Server
If you plan to primarily develop templates for HotDocs Server then you can use the HotDocs Options to enable every newly created template for HotDocs Server by default.
To enable templates for use with HotDocs Server
- Open the template's component file for editing and click the
Component File Properties button. The Component File Properties dialog box appears. - Click the HotDocs Server tab and select Enable template for use with HotDocs Server.
- Select any of the following options:
| Option | Description |
| Interview outline initially showing | This option causes the interview outline (list of dialogs in the interview) to appear when the interview is first displayed. |
| Allow user to hide/show interview outline | This option lets users show and hide the interview outline as needed. |
| Resource pane initially showing | This option causes the resource pane, which shows helpful information about questions in the interview, to appear when the interview is first displayed. |
| Allow user to hide/show resource pane | This option lets users show and hide the resource pane as needed. |
| Instant Update initially ON | This option causes HotDocs Server to automatically update the entire interview as users enter or change answers. If this option is turned off, HotDocs will only update the interview as needed. (Some complex interviews may require Instant Update to be turned off or response time may be slow.)
The Instant Update option applies only to JavaScript interviews. In Silverlight, interviews are always instantly updated. |
| Allow user to turn Instant Update on/off | This option lets users control how frequently HotDocs updates the interview. |
| Single-page interview initially ON | This option causes the interview to appear as a single page when the interview is first displayed. |
| Allow user to turn single-page interview on/off | This option lets users switch between normal and single-page interviews. |
When a template is enabled for use with HotDocs Server, HotDocs warns you if you try to use a feature that is not allowed in a HotDocs Server template. In addition, HotDocs Server-enabled templates can be tested in a Web browser to ensure that the interview appears as intended.
To view a JavaScript or Silverlight browser interview, use the Template Test in Browser command at the library window. You can also view a JavaScript-based interview by pressing the Shift key as you click the 
Assemble button. To view the interview using Silverlight, press the Ctrl key as you click the Assemble button. (This also works while editing a template; you can press either the Shift key or the Ctrl key as you click the Test Assemble button in your word processor or HotDocs Automator.)
It is recommended that template names are kept to less than 52 characters and don't use non-ASCII characters. This will reduce the possibility of the template name causing errors if it is enabled for use with HotDocs Server.
'/', '\', and '?' cannot be included in the template name when you are creating a template package for use in a HotDocs Cloud Services direct interview.