Insert a Personal Information Variable

Personal Information variables store basic information about the user, such as a name, a company name, and a phone number in the Current User key of the Windows System Registry. Those answers can then be used in any document that uses the same Personal Information variables, regardless of which answer file is being used. HotDocs provides 12 Personal Information variables, but you can also create your own.

To insert a Personal Information variable

1. At the template, place your cursor where you want the Personal Information variable and click the Variable Field button. The Variable Field dialog box appears.
2. Select Personal Information.
3. Either type a name for a new Personal Information variable in the Variable field, or click the Variable drop-down button to select an existing Personal Information variable.
4. Optionally, clear Use default and select an example format from the Format drop-down list. This format will be applied to this instance of the variable only. (See Format the Variable.)
5. Optionally, click Show Advanced to assign options that control how that specific instance of the variable is merged into the assembled document. See Control How Answers Appear in the Assembled Document for information about each option.

When a Personal Information variable is inserted in the template, its name is preceded by the word MY. This notation distinguishes it from other variables in the template.

When users assemble documents that use Personal Information variables, HotDocs asks for the information and then stores it in the HotDocs section of the system registry. Once entered, the variable is never asked again; however, users can change their information at the HotDocs Options dialog box. See Edit Answers for Built-In Personal Information Variables.