The Process, Technique 2
Contents
Template Assembly:
Rather than using the 'paragraph assembly' method described in the preceding pages, many users prefer to start the process from what are commonly called 'templates.'
Templates are essentially complete, typically overbuilt, documents. They don't offer quite as much flexibility in terms of the number of possible permutations, but do offer greater control over the content the end user can select. Further, they are typically easier to create, use and conceptually understand for those just beginning to use the program.
There is no special preparation needed to 'create' a new document based on a template. Simply to assign the folder containing the template(s) to either
•a 'Book.' This is preferable if you tend to select documents in collections. (Here we are talking about 'packages' of documents as opposed to a single document. When assigned to a book, all templates in the folder can be displayed in the Clause Selection Screen, where one or more templates can be selected and assembled.
•a DropDown List. This is preferable when the typical routine is to create 'one document at a time'. Click the following link for the steps to create a DropDown List. Once accomplished, document assembly is 'point and click:' (Point to the DropDown list containing the desired document and click the desired document.)
A copy of the documents you selected will quickly be displayed onto the editing screen. (Note that we said a 'copy' is displayed. It has all the attributes of the original, but since it is a copy, there is no possibility that you will accidentally overwrite the original version.)
If your now assembled document contains <<*Optional*>> or <<*Options*>> or <<*Repeat*>> blocks, they are automatically processed. These blocks allow you to select among choices that the document author has placed in the source text. Once selected, you will have a final draft of the document. If the document contains variables (placeholders for personal data), you would then activate the Instant Database system to either recall an existing data record for the client or customer, or create one. The Instant Database routine is activated by pressing <Alt-D> (for 'D'atabase).
See also: