Create Clauses at the Clause Library

Once you've created a clause library at a template library (see Create a Clause Library at the HotDocs Library), you can add clause text from any word processor document to it. To do this, either copy text from an existing word processor document or template and paste it into the clause component, or write the clause text as you go.

To create a clause at the clause library

  1. Open for editing the clause library which will contain your clause components. (See Open and Close a Clause Library.)
  2. Click New Clause. The Clause Editor appears.
  3. Type a name for the clause in the Clause name field. (50-character limit.)
  4. Optionally, enter a title for the clause in the Title field. The title will be used as the default title for the item once it is added to the clause library.
  5. Optionally, click the Resource tab to provide users with helpful information that can assist them in providing the correct answer. (See Add Resource Information to a Variable or Dialog.)
  6. Optionally, click the Notes tab to enter notes about the clause, such as an explanation about why the clause was created or how it should function in the interview. (See Add Notes to Components for details.)
  7. Click OK. HotDocs opens a new, empty text template.
  8. Either copy sections of existing template text and paste it into the template (make sure you copy any existing components into the associated component file), or type the text directly in the template. You can automate the clause text by adding variables, instructions, and any other HotDocs functionality.
  9. When you are finished, click the Save and Close Template button at the HotDocs toolbar. The clause is added to the clause library.
  10. Repeat this process for all the clauses you need to create.

In Word, the word processor may insert an extra hard return at the end of a new clause. To fix this, select the clause at the clause library and click Edit. The Clause Editor appears, where you can click Edit Clause Text. When your text appears, delete the extra hard return. (Click the Show / Hide ¶ button in the Word toolbar to view paragraph marks.)

As you create clauses, if you paste template text that already contains variables or other HotDocs components, you must copy those components into the clause library's component file in order for the clauses to assemble correctly. The easiest way to do this is to click the Component Manager button in the clause library toolbar and copy those components in. (See Copy Components From One File to Another.)