Import One Library Into Another

You can import a copy of another library into the current library. The imported library will become a folder in the current library.

There are three types of imported libraries. Which type you choose depends on how you need to use the library and its contents:

• Assembly Only: You can use the library to assemble documents, but you can't change the library’s (or folder's) structure or edit a template. This type of import is useful, for example, when you want to access company templates stored on a network drive, but you don't have authorization to edit the templates or the imported library's structure.
• Editing and Assembly Using Original Files: You can use the library to assemble documents and edit templates. You can also modify the structure of the library. The imported library references the same files as the original library. (Templates and clause libraries can be referenced in more than one library.) If you edit a template from either the imported library or the original library, changes you make will appear in documents produced from either library. This type of import is useful when you are maintaining company templates stored on a network.
• Editing and Assembly Using Copies: You can use the library to assemble a document and edit templates. You can also modify the structure of the library. However, this method copies the files to a new location, rather than refers to the originals. Any changes you make to the templates are applied only to the copies and not the original files. This is useful if you are copying a library from a removable disk or network on your local disk.

When importing a library, HotDocs looks for the items referenced in the library in the same folder as the library itself. If they are not saved together, importing will not work.

To import one library into another

1. At the HotDocs library window, select the folder where you want the imported library to be located.
2. Click Import Library (File menu). The Import Library dialog box appears.
3. Select the library you want to import and click Import. The Import Library dialog box appears.
4. Choose how you want to import the templates:
   • Click Assembly Only to assemble documents from the templates—and nothing else.
   • Click Editing and Assembly to edit the templates and assemble documents from them.
5. If you select Editing and Assembly, HotDocs displays another dialog box, prompting you to choose whether to copy the associated files or use the originals:
   • Click Yes to import copies of the files to a new location you specify. Changes you make to the templates will affect files in the new location only. The Browse for Folder dialog box appears, prompting you to specify where the copied files should be placed.
   • Click No to have the library reference the original files. Changes you make to the templates will affect everyone using those files to assemble documents.