Overlay Answers in the Current Answer File

When you assemble a document, you can use answers from an existing answer file and overlay them in the current answer file, overwriting any existing answers in the current answer file.

For example, perhaps you have an answer file that contains only client-specific answers, such as names and addresses. You can use these answers to assemble several related documents. However, to use this answer file in the traditional way (selecting it at the Answer File dialog box), you would most likely add answers to the file, making it less useful in assembling other documents. To make the file useful for multiple templates, you can select a new or existing answer file at the Answer File dialog box, and then use the answer file that contains your client-specific answers as an overlay answer file. Answers you enter or change during the interview are saved to the current answer file—not the overlay answer file.

To use an overlay answer file during assembly

1. At the HotDocs library window, select a template and click Assemble. The Answer File dialog box appears.
2. Select an answer file, and click OK. The assembly window appears.
3. Click File, then click Overlay Answers. The Open Answer File dialog box appears.
4. Select an answer file to overlay, and click the Open button. The assembly window appears again, showing information from the overlay answer file; however, the answer file you selected in step two is still assigned (as seen in the Current Answer File drop-down list).

You can also specify an overlay answer file at the command line.