Define Field Colors

By default, when you insert fields in a HotDocs text template, HotDocs applies certain colors to the fields, depending on the field type. For example, all variable fields will be merged using a specific color, while all REPEAT instructions will be merged using a different color, and so forth.

Depending on the complexity of the template, there may be times when you want to use field coloring to view relationships between SPAN, IF and REPEAT instructions in the template. For example, when working with nested instructions, you may want all first-level instructions to be marked by one color, all second-level instructions to be marked by another color, and so forth. Additionally, you may want to view instructions in the template sequentially, meaning each instruction pair is marked with its own color.

At the Field Colors page, you can assign the colors HotDocs will use for marking fields and instructions in a template.

To customize the field colors in a text template

  1. At the HotDocs library, click the Options button. The HotDocs Options dialog box appears.
  2. Double-click the Markup View (Word) folder. The folder expands to show subfolders.
  3. Click the Field Colors folder. The window changes to show lists of field types and instructions with their corresponding colors.
  4. Complete any of the following steps:
    • To specify the color for all field types in a template, click that particular field in the Regular column and choose the color you want from the palette.
    • To specify the color for each nested level of instruction, click that particular level in the Nested column and choose the color you want from the palette.
    • To specify the color for each matching pair of instructions, click that field in the Sequential column and choose the color you want from the palette.
  5. Repeat this process for each field type or level of instruction you want to change.

Once you have made these changes, you must click the Apply Colors button within your template to apply the new colors to any existing fields.

HotDocs allows you to assign up to 20 Nested and Sequential colors. If you want to use fewer color schemes, select the Level or Field after the last color you want used and assign black as the text color and white as the highlight color. (So, for example, if you want to show only four levels of nesting, click on Level 5 and assign the black/white color combination.)

If using the keyboard, tab to the row you need to access and press the Spacebar to show the foreground color palette. Press Shift+Spacebar to show the background color palette.

To restore default colors, click the Color drop-down button and choose Default at the top of the Palette tab.

To choose the colors used for form fields, see Change Colors in Form Fields.