Remove Items from a Library

Libraries do not contain the actual files that HotDocs uses, such as template files, component files, or answer files. Libraries only contain references to those files, similar to shortcut icons on a Windows desktop. When you remove an item from a library, you can choose to remove just the reference, or you can choose to delete the actual file from disk.

The available options for removing items in a library depend on the type of item:

  • When you remove the reference for a template, you can choose to also delete the associated template file, component file, and clause library file (if any) from disk. If you do this, the files you delete are either sent to the Windows Recycle Bin (if the template is stored on your local disk) or permanently deleted (if it's stored on a network drive). Or, you can delete only the reference, leaving the template, compo­nent file, and clause library file in place on the disk—perhaps for use in another library.
  • When you remove the reference for a folder, you can choose to delete the items within the folder. If you choose to remove the items in the folder, all of the items in that folder and in all subfolders will be removed. If you choose to leave the files, they will be moved to the next higher folder.

To remove items from a library

  1. At the HotDocs library window, select the item (or items).
  2. Click the Remove Item button. The Remove Item dialog box appears, asking if you want to remove the reference to the file from the library.
  3. Optionally, if you have selected a folder and you want to remove items within the folder, select Remove the unselected items contained in selected folders.
  4. Optionally, if you want to delete the actual files from disk, select Permanently delete the files for selected items from the disk.
  5. Click Yes.

If the template you are deleting is in the same folder as another template with the same file name but a different file name extension (for example, you are deleting Invoice.rtf and the same folder also contains Invoice.wpt), HotDocs doesn't delete the associated files, like the component file. You need these files for the other template.