At a Glance: The HotDocs Library Window

 

 

Library Contents Pane

Toolbar

Properties Tab

Menu Bar

Preview Tab

While HotDocs templates exist as files within your file system, the best way to view, edit and organize them is with a HotDocs Library.

At the top of the window is the Menu bar which allows you to access the features available in the Template Library including; importing and exporting the library, updating the template sets and accessing the HotDocs Help File. Many of the most used features are available as buttons on the toolbar.

The Toolbar contains quick links to the most used features in the HotDocs Library. Below is a list of the buttons on the toolbar:

  • Create a New Library: The New Library dialog box will appear where you can enter a title, description, path, and file name for the library. Once created, you can add templates or other files to the library. A single template can be referenced in multiple libraries.
  • Open a Library: The Open Library dialog box will appear where you can select the library you want.
  • Print Contents of Library: Prints a document that lists the contents of the current library, including file names, titles, and descriptions.
  • Assemble a Template: Assembles a text or form document, clause library, or interview template. The HotDocs assembly window will appear.
  • Create a New Template: Creates a new template or clause library file and adds it to the list of items in the library.
  • Edit a Template: Opens the selected template or clause library so you can edit it.
  • Cut a Template: Removes the selected library item or items and saves those items to the Windows Clipboard. (If you select a folder, HotDocs will remove the folder with all of its contents.) You can then paste the items into another part of the current library or into a different library.
  • Copy a Template: Copies the selected library item or items and saves them to the Windows Clipboard. (If you select a folder, HotDocs will copy the folder with all its contents.) You can then paste them into another part of the current library or into a different library.
  • Paste a Template: Pastes any library items that have been saved to the Windows Clipboard into the current library. The item or items will be pasted below the currently selected item in the library.
  • Add Item to Library: The Add Item dialog box will appear where you can choose to add a template, folder, or clause library. The new item will be inserted below the currently selected item.
  • Remove Item from Library: Removes the selected library item or items from the library. You can also choose to delete the actual files from disk. If the templates you delete are stored on the local disk, they will be sent to the Windows Recycle Bin. If they are stored on a network, they will be permanently deleted.
  • Sort Templates: Sorts the items in a library or a folder in a library in either ascending or descending alphanumeric order. You can also specify whether to include items in subfolders. You must have a folder selected to sort items in it.
  • View Template Properties: Displays the title, file name, and description of a selected library item so you can edit them.
  • Open Answer File Manager: Displays the Answer File Manager where you can organize existing answer files or create an empty answer file to be used in a later assembly.
  • Open Component Manager: Displays Component Manager so you can edit the components in a given template without opening the template. (You must select a template from the template list before you click this button.)
  • Open Template Manager: Launches Template Manager, which allows you to manage components in several component files at once. Template Manager also lets you manage templates, including renaming templates or converting multiple templates at once.
  • Publish Library or Templates: Publishes the selected files so they can be distributed to others. The Publishing Wizard will appear where you can specify the type of file you'd like to publish.
  • Assembly queue: Opens the Assembly Queue dialog box where you can view the templates waiting to be assembled and alter their positions in the queue.
  • HotDocs Options: Opens the HotDocs Options dialog box where you can specify preferences that control how HotDocs works.
  • Help: Opens the relevant page of the HotDocs Help File.

In the Library Contents Pane you can organize or select HotDocs files. The items you see in this pane are not the actual HotDocs files on your local disk or network. Instead they are reference to the files, operating in a similar way to Windows-type shortcuts. You can use folders in this pane to help you organize the list of files in the library but again these are not actual folders in your document files.

At the bottom of the Library Contents Pane is the Find check box, selecting this displays only those templates and clause libraries that contain the text you enter in the Find box in their file names, titles, or descriptions. You can specify the text by typing directly into the box to the right, or you can click the drop-down button and select text used in a previous search.

You can use the Properties tab and Preview tab to change what you see on the right hand pane of the window. Clicking the Properties tab will have HotDocs show you information on the selected template file,such as file types, names, and descriptions (where given), and clicking the Preview tab will have HotDocs display the template text.

The Preview tab does not always display the template with the correct formatting. The template has not changed and when it is assembled the formatting will all be correct. Also the template cannot be edited in the Preview tab.

Below are some of the options available from the HotDocs Library: