Define Overflow Properties for a Regular Field

When an answer is too large to fit in its field, HotDocs, by default, warns you and asks how to handle the overflow. You can customize the field overflow properties, controlling how HotDocs automatically handles answer overflows.

For example, you can have HotDocs automatically create an addendum, where each answer that overflows is sent. In the field that overflows, HotDocs can insert cross-reference text that points you to a specific item in the addendum. You can designate the text that is used both for the cross-reference and for the label in the addendum.

Another option is for you to have HotDocs automatically reduce the answer’s font size. You can set a minimum point size and control if the answer is automatically reduced to this size before displaying an overflow warning message. (Be careful reducing the font size since others may find the smaller size harder to read.) (See Change the Font Used for a Field.)

How you define overflow properties depends on the type of field you are creating. For example, in an addendum, grouped fields and tables are handled a little differently from regular fields.

To set overflow properties for regular fields

  1. Edit a form template. (See Edit a Form Template.)
  2. Select the field whose overflow properties you want to define.
  3. Click the Field PropertiesField Properties button and click the Overflow tab.
  4. Complete any of the following steps:
To Do This
Automatically shrink an answer that overflows to a specific point size Select Shrink answer as needed and enter a point size in the points box.
Automatically send an answer that overflows to the addendum Select Send answer to addendum. (To send only part of a multi-line answer to the addendum, select Split answer. (See Split a Multi-Line Answer Between the Form and the Addendum.)
Define the text that appears in the answer field when an answer is sent to the addendum Enter the text in the Cross-reference text box. (See here for a list of reference numbering codes you can use.)
Define the text that identifies the answer once it has been sent to the addendum Enter the text in the Addendum label text box.
Make an answer the first item on its addendum page Select Begin addendum entry on a new page.
Make an answer the last item on its addendum page Select Begin new page following addendum entry.

Fillable PDFs do not support the creation of an addendum when a field overflows. This means that if a field in an assembled fillable PDF template overflows, the answer in the saved PDF document will simply appear cut off. Template users should always review and modify any answers that may potentially overflow before saving the assembled document as a fillable PDF.