HotDocs Version 11 Adds Support for DOCX Templates

Michael Roach

Law Technology News

02-15-2013

HotDocs Corp., a document assembly software provider with offices in Lindon, Utah, and Edinburgh, Scotland, anounced an upgraded version of its desktop software, HotDocs Developer 11 and HotDocs User 11.

Using HotDocs Developer, attorneys can work with existing Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, and PDF documents such as contracts or pleadings to create templates they can use to build finished documents. User 11 restricts users to the generation of finished documents and is targeted at end users — possibly paralegals or legal secretaries depending on the size of the firm.

Templates are built in Developer by highlighting text in legal documents to create variables, for example, changing the name in a contract to "contractee" or "party" to be filled in with a name in a later document. Developers, or content creators, can also create scripts for operations involving more complex variables or including or excluding blocks of boilerplate text from an agreement. User presents interviews — dynamic question and answer fields, such as contractee name — which they fill in sequentially to create a finished document.

The latest iteration of Developer adds support for templates in .docx, the default file format for Word 2007 and 2010. HotDocs users can now build templates in the Word environment in its native format where previously they had to convert .docx files to .rtf format to create HotDocs templates.

Other features:

• Scripting upgrades to better generalize, maintain, and share code.

• New tools for mathematical, financial, and textual calculations.

• Web forum to find and share variables and scripts.

• Compatiblity with Microsoft Word 2013 and WordPerfect X6 and support for output in plain text, HTML, and XML.

• Enhanced Microsoft Word ribbon for easier template creation, with markup tools to create model documents directly inside the word processor.

HotDocs integrates with SharePoint and Interwoven as well as case management systems such as Time Matters, Case Master, AbacusLaw, Amicus Attorney, Elite Encompass, JustWare, Practice Manager, LawBase, and ProLaw.

HotDocs Developer 11 is licensed at $800 per user, while HotDocs User 11 licenses at $330 per user. A 15 percent discount is available until February 28 and upgrades from previous versions of HotDocs are offered at a reduced rate.

Press release.

Michael Roach is LTN's associate editor. Send email.