Customize a Number Variable

You can merge numbers into your assembled document using Number variables. You can format numbers as currency, use decimals, and specify minimum and maximum values.

Typically you use a Number variable to represent text in your template that can be calculated—for example, dollar amounts or other sums. Even though Social Security numbers, telephone numbers, and times are numbers, you must use a Text variable with the appropriate pattern to merge one of these numbers into your document. (See Customize a Text Variable.)

When you create a Number variable, you can add a title or prompt to help the user know what information is required. You can also decide how answers will be formatted when they are merged into the assembled document. Finally, you can add a resource or select advanced options that determine how the variable will be processed and merged into the document.

Once a variable is created, you can edit it at any time. (See Edit a Variable.)

To edit the properties of a Number variable

Follow the instructions for inserting a variable, selecting Number as the variable type. (See Insert a Variable Field in a Text Template.)
At the Variable Field dialog box, click the Edit Component button. The Number Variable Editor appears.
Make any changes, as described in the following table:

To	Do This
Specify a default format that will be applied to all instances of the variable (except when a field-specific format has been assigned)	Select a format from the Default format drop-down list. (See Format the Variable and How Example Formats are Interpreted.) Optionally, to keep the answer from breaking across lines in the document, select Non-breaking.
Specify an alternate name for the variable	Enter a title in the Title field. See Understand How Component Titles and Prompts are Used for a description of how and when variable titles are used.
Provide users with additional information about the variable	Enter a prompt in the Prompt field. This information replaces the Variable name and Variable title when the variable is presented during the interview. (See Create a Prompt for a Variable.)
Force users to enter a number that falls within a certain numeric range	Type numbers in the Minimum and Maximum fields.
Specify a certain number of decimal places allowed in the users' answer	Either type a number (0-7) in the Decimal places field, or click the up or down arrows to select a number.
Make HotDocs show a currency symbol next to the answer field when it displays the variable in the interview	Select a symbol from the Currency drop-down list.
Control how the variable is processed during assembly, as well as how its answer appears in the interview and in the assembled document	Click the Advanced tab and select any of the options. (See Control How HotDocs Processes a Variable, Specify the Width of Answer Fields in the Interview, and Control How HotDocs Processes a Variable, respectively.)
Provide users with helpful information that can assist them in providing the correct answer	Click the Resource tab and provide a resource option. (See Add Resource Information to a Variable or Dialog.)
View a list of all components that refer to this variable	Click the Used In tab. (See View Relationship Between the Current Component and Other Components.)
Enter notes about the component, such as an explanation about why the component was created or how it should function in the interview	Click the Notes tab and enter your comments. (See Add Notes to Components for details.)
Save changes to the variable without closing the variable editor	Click Save.

If you are creating a list of answers, you can use a built-in Number variable called COUNTER to count the number of entries in a list. See Count the Number of Entries in a List.

You can automatically number paragraphs or other blocks of text. See Use Automatic Paragraph Numbering.