Change a Dialog's Options

You can make several changes at the Options tab of a custom dialog:

Put True/False variables, clauses, or inserted dialogs into single-selection or multiple-selection groups
Decide where variable prompts appear in relation to answer fields
Make sure variables grouped in a dialog are asked only if the dialog is specifically ASKed
Make sure a dialog always appears, no matter how the user navigates through an interview
Specify an answer source to be used with the dialog

To change dialog options

Open a dialog to edit.
Click the Options tab. The window shows several custom options.
Perform any of the following tasks:

To	Do This
Place groups of True/False variables together, clause components together, or child dialogs together so users can choose only one option	From the Selection grouping drop-down list, choose Select One. When HotDocs processes a dialog that has a selection grouping, it marks all options as false, which tells HotDocs those variables are answered. (Of course, the user can change this by selecting an option.) The user viewing the dialog, however, sees no visual cue that these options are false (and therefore answered), so they might not understand why the answered status changes in the interview outline. To avoid confusion, always select None of the Above, which adds a None of the Above option to the list. This way, the dialog can appear answered, even if the user does not select an option.
Place groups of True/False variables together, clause components together, or child dialogs together so users can choose from several options	From the Selection grouping drop-down list, choose Select All That Apply. When HotDocs processes a dialog that has a selection grouping, it marks all options as false, which tells HotDocs those variables are answered. (Of course, the user can change this by selecting an option.) The user viewing the dialog, however, sees no visual cue that these options are false (and therefore answered), so they might not understand why the answered status changes in the interview outline. To avoid confusion, always select None of the Above, which adds a None of the Above option to the list. This way, the dialog can appear answered, even if the user does not select an option.
Add a None of the Above option to a single-selection or multiple-selection group	Select None of the Above. Providing a None of the Above option for your users gives them the chance to answer a question without selecting any of the options you have presented.
Choose the visual relationship you want between variable prompts and answer fields	Select an option from the Prompt position drop-down list: Above places the prompt above the answer field. Left places the prompt to the left of the answer field. The length of the prompt text can be from 12 to 50 units, with one unit being equal to the width of the character 5, as specified in the Maximum units field. If the prompt length exceeds the maximum units setting, the prompt will wrap to the next line. Automatic places the prompt according to the values you specify in the Maximum units field. Prompts that are shorter than this number will be placed to the left of the answer field. Prompts that are longer are placed above the answer field. To align prompts to the right, select Right-align prompts. When you place variables side-by-side in a dialog, prompts will always appear above the answer field.
Enter a prompt for a child dialog button on the parent dialog (By default, child dialogs appear on parent dialogs as links with the child dialog's name as the prompt. Specifying a prompt lets you provide more instructive text for accessing and then answering questions in the child dialog.)	Enter the new prompt in the Prompt to use when displayed as child dialog box. The prompt you specify here appears in the dialog only. The dialog's name or title is still used in the interview outline and in the dialog itself.
Keep child dialogs from appearing as buttons on the parent dialog	Deselect Show buttons for child dialogs. HotDocs removes any representation of the child dialog from the parent dialog. The only reference to the dialog will be in the interview outline, and users must manually click on the dialog to answer questions within it.
Keep the dialog from being asked if none of the variables in the dialog are active (or used by the document)	Select Prevent this dialog from being asked when irrelevant. This option is only available when the component file property Automatically disable irrelevant interviews and dialogs has been turned off.
Make sure the dialog is asked—even if it has already been answered—when a user clicks the Next Unanswered button	Select Always stop at this dialog when moving to next unanswered. This option is also useful when you have a dialog that contains dialog element text only. By selecting this option, you can ensure that users navigating the interview using the Next Unanswered button will still see this dialog.
Control whether dialogs are asked automatically	Clear Ask automatically.
Cause variables in the dialog to be asked separately, rather than together in a dialog	Clear Link variables to this dialog. If this option is cleared and the dialog is not specified in an ASK instruction, Hotdocs asks the variable questions individually.
Use one variable in two or more dialogs	Clear Link variables to this dialog.
Identify an answer source file from which the user can choose answers	Either type the name of an answer source file in the Answer source field, or click the drop-down button and select an existing answer source. Click the Map Variables button to link an existing answer source to a dialog where the variable names are not the same. You can also link an answer source to a Time Matters Record or an Outlook Contacts list.
Display all repeats even if grayed or hidden	Clear Trim endmost iterations whose answers are grayed or hidden. This option is only available on repeated dialogs.