CONCEAL VAR

PlaceholderA marker in an instruction or expression model that indicates where a value must be substituted. This value must be a literal value or a variable. Instruction and expression models help the developer use the correct syntax in a script.	Replace With
VAR	A variableA component that is used to represent changeable text (such as names, dates, numbers, etc.) in the template. Types of variables include Text, Date, Number, True/False, Multiple Choice, Computation, and Personal Information. used in an answer source

This instructionA command in a script or template that performs a special task, such as inserting a template or asking a dialog at a specific place in the interview., which you use in a dialogIn template development, represents the component in which the developer groups variables and other components. In document assembly, represents the group of questions in the Interview tab of the assembly window where users enter their answers. scriptOne or more instructions and/or expressions that generate a value or execute some kind of procedure., keeps variables from appearing in the Select From Answer Source dialog box of an answer source.

Answer sources are associated with specific dialogs in a templateA word processor or form document that has been converted to HotDocs format so that it can be automated. When in template format, changeable text in the template can be replaced with variables. Other instructions can be added as well, such as instructions that create lists, condition text, and insert other templates.. When users view the dialog during the interviewA series of dialogs, each containing one or more questions which HotDocs generates from the variables you add to your template. The template's user must answer the questions in the interview before HotDocs can assemble a custom document. You can view the interview by clicking the Interview tab of the assembly window. The left pane of the assembly window displays an outline of the interview. As the user answers questions, the outline tracks the user's progress through the interview., they can click a special button, which displays a listTwo or more answers to one question merged in the document. of answers that were entered during previous interview sessions. They can either select an existing set of answers or add a new set to the list.

After creating an answer source for one dialog, you can use it with other dialogs, including dialogs in other templates. However, when using an answer source with multiple dialogs, each variable must be represented in both the answer source and in each dialog. If a variable that is referenced in the answer source isn’t included in the dialog (or vice-versa), answers in the answer source will get “mixed together” whenever you add, edit, or delete records.

In some situations though, it isn’t always practical or relevant to showAn instruction used in a dialog script to show variables that have been hidden in the dialog. (See also HIDE.) Usually this instruction is conditioned so that variables hide and show dynamically, based on answers the user enters. the userThe customer, client, or person who assembles documents from templates. (See also template developer.) every variable—either in the dialog or in the answer source. To accommodate this, you can use the HIDEAn instruction used in a dialog script to hide variables in the dialog. (See also SHOW.) Usually this instruction is conditioned so that questions in the dialog hide and show dynamically, based on answers the user enters., CONCEAL, and OMIT instructions to manipulate these variables in both the dialog and the answer source. Specifically, HIDE keeps a variable from appearing on the dialog, while CONCEAL keeps it from appearing in the answer source. OMIT keeps it from being associated with the answer source at all. Often, you must use a combination of these instructions to achieve your desired result.

For example, in one template, the user must enter both a Creditor Name and a Creditor Address. However, in a second template that uses the same dialog and answer source, Creditor Address isn't needed. You can keep it from appearing in the Select From Answer Source dialog box for this template by using the following script:

CONCEAL Creditor Address

Answers for Creditor Address are still saved in the answer source, even though they do not appear when the user opens the Select From Answer Source dialog box. (You would most likely include the instruction HIDE Creditor Address in this script as well, which would keep Creditor Address from appearing on the actual interview dialog. To keep the variable from appearing when the user edits a record in the answer source, see OMIT VAR.)

See Suggest an Answer Source for Dialogs for more information.