Viewing an Interview in a Web Browser

When you test assemble a template you plan to use with HotDocs Server, you can display the interview in a Web browser. This allows you to test its functionality and view its overall appearance.

Templates containing instructions to assemble another template (for example, «ASSEMBLE SomeTemplateName.rtf”») do not work when you use Test In Browser; however they do work when actually run in an independent browser instance.

To view an interview in a Web browser

  1. At the HotDocs library window, select a template and ensure it is enabled for use with HotDocs Server. (See Enable Templates for Use with HotDocs Server.)
  2. Select one of the following options from the Template > Test in Browser menu:
    • JavaScript: Displays a traditional JavaScript-based interview in a browser window.

Starting with HotDocs 11.1 JavaScript interviews have a slightly altered layout. You can minimize the Interview Outline to the left of the window and the Resource Pane to the right of the window. You can view either panel by clicking on the side bar and causing it to expand. You can click the arrow button on the top right of the panels to keep them open while you enter answers.

    • Silverlight: Displays a Silverlight-based interview in a browser window. Unlike the traditional JavaScript-based interviews where the interview logic is written in an interpreted language (JavaScript), Silverlight-based interviews are compiled to machine code, which makes them much quicker at processing and updating answers (this is especially noticeable in long, complex interviews).

The Silverlight option is only enabled if you have the Microsoft Silverlight Runtime and SDK installed on your computer.

  1. HotDocs displays the Answer File dialog box.
  2. Select an answer file and click OK. A browser window appears and displays the interview.
  3. Type any answers and click Finish. HotDocs closes the browser window and displays the assembled document in your default word processor or HotDocs Filler (for form documents).

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.)

'/', '\', and '?' cannot be included in the template name when you are creating a template package for use in a HotDocs Cloud Services direct interview.