Ideas for HotDocs

Add Developer's ability to insert auxiliary templates from outside the workspace folder

2025-08-22T00:49:40Z

We ensure firm letterhead consistency by inserting auxiliary template headers and footers into all HotDocs templates. We have to update our letterhead regularly (it's a list of the current attorneys at our firm). In Developer, we could use one auxiliary template and point to any template from any library or folder on our network drive. In Advance/Author, you can only insert auxiliary templates within the same Workspace and workspace network folder. So we are forced to update numerous auxiliary templates in each department's workspace, place every department's file set in one workspace (that doesn't even have folders anymore), so there would be hundreds of templates and dozens of intake files in one workspace.

Ability to Add User Groups to Multiple Work Groups

2025-08-21T18:44:00Z

Currently a user group can only be added by going into each individual work group and editing the access permissions, which gets tedious when a user group needs to be added to a large amount of work groups. It would be helpful to have the ability to add a user group to multiple work groups at once, instead of editing each individual work group.

Component Studio: Built-in tables: Add search / find & replace

2025-08-17T23:49:50Z

As mentioned in a separate suggestion related to built-in tables, I have a lot of them, and some are quite large. The ability to search or find & replace would be very helpful.

Allow variable URLs in Web Link field elements

2025-07-22T15:04:14Z

With increased reference to web sites in documentation there is a demand from users to be able to specify different URLs within template questionnaires for inclusion in HotDocs template output. These are typically transaction specific and typically occur when referencing Client or 3rd Party sites. Like party names these are often unknown during template development and there is currently no ability to be able to enter these directly from the HotDocs interview. Web link field have to be predetermined during development and it would be useful if variables could be added to the field.

Workspace Explorer: Ability to sort template order and place into folders

2025-07-16T19:27:22Z

The templates in the workspace need to be sorted, ordered, and have the ability to be placed into folders. It should have the ability to sort by the title of the template rather than the name of the word file.

Disable warning about unanswered questions after clicking "Finish"

2025-07-14T08:52:48Z

After clicking "Finish", our users almost always receive a message saying that many questions remain unanswered. This is confusing, and we regularly receive quetions from users about this warning. As it is very time-consuming to set each component not to warn when questions remain unanswered, it would be great to have a feature to turn off the warning altogether, as there is in HotDocs Author. Also, when I set each component to not warn when unanswered, the dialog is green, even some questions are not answered (please see attached image). It would be great if the color of the dialogs stayed the same, but only the message disappeared at the end.

Make it easier to read template titles when selecting templates to add to Workgroups

2025-06-15T21:43:22Z

I have many templates with similar, often long, names. I can't see the entire name when choosing which one to add to a workgroup. Please utilize the empty space shown in my screenshot to either provide us with a wider column or allow us to widen it ourselves.

Fix Trim feature to work with the letter "O"

2025-05-09T17:39:43Z

I tried to trim County, ST with the following code: SET County TO STRIP(CountyST, LAST(CountyST, 4)) This is supposed to strip off the comma space and two letter state abbreviation. It works fine for all States in the US except those ending in "O" which is Missouri and Colorado. For Oregon, MO it comes out as "regon" For Osage, MO it comes out as "sage" For Ozark, MO it comes out as "zark" For Otero, CO it comes out as "ter" For Ouray, CO it comes out as "uray" For whatever reason, it only does this when the State abbreviation ends in "O" and when the County starts with "O". Seems like a bug in the main Hot Docs code and not in my code. Any suggestions?

DeepL Integretation

2025-04-15T06:57:12Z

It would be good, if HotDocs has had a DeepL integration. There could be 2 use cases (for bilingual documents): 1. Enter a longer text in a TXT field (e.g. a German text); automatically translate this text into a second language in a second TXT field 2. Create a contract in one language. Automatically generate a bilingual contract (with 2 columns)

ERASE Instruction in repeated dialogues

2025-04-10T14:10:39Z

A way to erase a variable in only one repitition of a repeated dialogue.

Ability to change colors of HotDocs Advance

2025-03-05T16:17:27Z

It would be great if a HotDocs Advance administrator could customize the colors and fonts (at least the colors) of the HotDocs Advance user interface to match their corporate design.

Add Up/Down Button to IF Statement navigator for nested IF statements

2025-03-03T14:29:21Z

Currently if you select an IF statement, HDA allows navigation to the IF/ELSE/END IF components of that IF statement, or allows "Left/Right" navigation to the next/previous component. Would be useful to also have an Up/Down navigation in the event of nested IF statements, to navigate (Up) to the IF statement that holds the currently selected IF or (Down) to the IF statements that are wrapped within the currently selected IF.

Auto Trim Function

2025-02-20T13:43:45Z

Could we add an AutoTrim function to all text variables to clear all white space automatically in text variables and to possibly add to fixed table and table variables. This feature should be customised so you can switch it on and off for each variable or even better at a template level.

Edit information in workspace

2025-02-19T16:35:54Z

Add the file properties to the file details pain so we can see when the file was edited. It would be awesome if the Workspace could also be sorted by date so we can determine when the file was last accessed.

MY name is reversed

2025-01-29T22:09:02Z

As an author, my name is listed as Leon, Harris. If the listing is alphabetical by last name, I should be listed as Harris, Leon. Where Harris is my last name.

Add Washington DC

2025-01-29T21:53:34Z

Please add Washington DC to list of states

Work Group View - Rearrange Columns

2025-01-15T16:24:28Z

Ability to rearrange the columns to better bring up front the important information. Certain columns aren't necessary and can be removed or pushed to the wayside.

Save to iManage - Answer File Save Option Disable

2025-01-15T15:44:06Z

Have the ability to disable the option to save answer files to iManage when using that save feature. Saving answer files is not preferable for our team.

Client Interview Answer Summary

2025-01-09T09:36:34Z

When a Client receives a Client Interview by email there is no way for teh client to be able to see what answers have been given after they click submit. Could we have an Answer Summary button added similar to oon-premise and Cloud versions (see screenshot) so the Client has the option to vieew and print the Q&A summary before submission.

In Workspace Explorer, show and sort on template dates

2024-12-14T21:58:16Z

In Workspace Explorer, show template "date last uploaded" and "date last revised" and allow sort on "date last uploaded" or both dates. Currently, it's not easy to see in Workspace Explorer which templates are outdated.

Edit multiple template properties at once

2024-10-28T19:54:35Z

I would love to change the template properties (point templates to a master file) at once.

Ability to print lists of documents in a library, components, variables, etc

2024-10-15T06:40:05Z

We get requests for lists of template names and template titles held in a library. There is currently no function to print a library in HotDocs Author. Similarly, it would be good if we could print lists of variables and dialogs contained in a library

Add function so clients can download the assembled document after running a "client interview"

2024-09-20T03:43:23Z

Admin chooses whether to enable this feature. Once enabled, when a Client Interview is sent, the firm's HD Advance user decides whether to enable "client document download" for this particular client interview. If turned on, client will receive message at the end of the interview asking if they'd like to download the finished document. This feature was enabled in the Document Services version of HD some years ago and it was extremely useful. This feature was not carried over to Advance but would be a great addition.

Add Multi Factor Authentication to HotDocs Advance

2024-08-21T21:38:59Z

HotDocs Advance is one of the few systems we use that doesn't now offer multi factor authentication via Google Authenticator or similar. We've noticed that with data security and privacy now being so topical, our insurers have asked for details of what information we store, where, for how long, and what security measures are available. They particularly want to know about multi factor authentication. It would be great if HotDocs Advance offered this functionality too. Some regulatory guidance in our market says that if there is a privacy breach and the organisation does not use MFA that will be a negative factor against the supplier.

Add "nine point nine" format for number varaibles

2024-07-30T20:25:39Z

Number variables should have a "nine point nine" format that can be selected. That way if one types 1,234.56 the result will be "one thousand two hundred thirty-four point fifty-six", which is useful for percentages that need to be written out. Manually typing "nine point nine" gives the desired result, but the format option to select is missing.

Refreshing Interview in Author

2024-07-16T16:45:12Z

When building an interview, small changes are constantly being made to the look of the interview or to the tables. Developer provided the ability to see changes in real-time. Author behaves differently. If a change is made in Author, the user has to find the word document, press the test button and then navigate back to the dialog where the changes probably occurred. It would be nice if there was a refresh interview button that could be pressed within the interview window (maybe next to clear answers). If pressed, this button could refresh the interview and preserve the answers, and the interview would be restarted on the dialog the user was on when the refresh occurred.

Boarders around things that need to be answered?

2024-07-15T20:24:41Z

Increase the thickness/darken the boarder around the variable fields within the interview. I am 40 years old. My eyes are okay, but they are starting to go. I am also reasonably good at technology, so I can look at a page and make assumptions about whether the elements are headers or if it asks me to provide some text or select a dropdown or other button. But without these two attributes, I would probably struggle to navigate a HotDocs interview because it is hard to identify which features are text elements and which fields need to be answered. Most of my users probably lack one of these attributes. The borders around the text boxes are nearly invisible. My eyes have to constantly refocus to find the exterior of the box that I am typing in. Moving through an interview should not be strenuous for the eyes, and the user shouldn't have to make assumptions about whether something is a text box.

The button is basically indistinguishable from the text within the interview.

2024-07-15T19:56:45Z

A user navigating an interview should not have to stop and wonder if an element on a page is a button that achieves a function or if it is just text. There is almost no difference between how a button looks vs. how a text element looks within an interview. The button's border is practically invisible (like every field a user needs to answer), and there is no shading to contrast with everything else in the interview. Also, Dot Codes are nearly impossible to apply. Since there are no formatting buttons (like for computations), the right mouse click doesn't offer options (like developer), and the text box doesn't automatically convert "<<" or ">>" to chevrons (allowing me to force my way into formatting), and existing Dot Codes cannot be edited because the text box won't let me manually type in between the chevrons, I have to open up Word or computation to create the formatting, and then I have to cut and paste it back into the button text. I attached an image. Find my button.

Dot Codes for Variables/Dialog Elements

2024-07-10T20:28:19Z

There is no feature to easily apply formatting (Dot Codes) to the prompt for variables (except the computation variable type) or to dialog elements. Author provides a button to add Dot Codes for the Computation Variable type. However, when formatting prompts for variables or when creating dialog elements this feature is not available and the template developer has to manually look up and code the formatting in. In Developer, the Dot Codes could be easily accessed by right-clicking.

Ability to launch or copy the name of the computation used in the "Use Custom Interview Computation"

2024-07-10T18:22:10Z

If you have a template with a custom interview, the computation that controls the interview will launch or edited frequently. In Author, this computation is set within "Template Properties" --> "Interview Behavior" --> "Use custom Interview". Using a dropdown you can select the computations that will be used to control the interview. However, you cannot access or copy the name of the computation. On Developer, you could create, edit, or copy the name of the computation. To launch the interview computation, the user has to launch the template editor and launch the Component Studio. Then the user has to glance back and forth between the windows to copy or locate the computation within the component studio. Fix: If the computation cannot be launched from the template properties, allowing the user to cut and paste the name of the computation would be helpful. IT APPEARS that this functionality has already been applied under "Template Properties" --> "General" --> "Component File"

Add ability to export .cmp to report file in Word or Excel

2024-07-10T17:20:47Z

A lot of times our users ask for a copy of the questions/variables that are being asked in an interview. It would be really helpful to be able to export the .cmp file to a usable format in Word or Excel that I can send to users to review. It should show the variable name, prompt, guidance, type, options, etc.

Add Default Answer File location on a Workspace by Workspace basis in Author

2024-06-14T16:36:52Z

I have multiple workspaces in Author, each with a variety of templates. Please add the ability to have a default answer location defined for a Workspace. I would like to just see the testing answers files that apply to the Workspace.

Allow dialogs to be repeated inside the repeat of an unrelated dialog

2024-05-15T22:46:02Z

Dialog A ("Client Names") repeats. Dialog B ("Client Assets") repeats. Neither A nor B is a parent/child of the other. I need to repeat a paragraph in a document once for each asset in B, and this paragraph needs to list all of the client names from A. HotDocs Advance currently won't allow this without a workaround; throws the error, "Found a REPEAT instruction nested within another REPEAT instruction where the dialog used in the inner REPEAT is not a child of the dialog used in the outer REPEAT".

Bulk Assembly via CSV upload in HotDocs Advance

2024-05-10T21:17:52Z

Allow user assemble multiple documents from a single template by uploading a CSV file. Example workflow for user who needs to generate 100 employment agreements: Export CSV from HotDocs - contains all questions in Column A; User inputs answers for employee 1 in column B, employee 2 in column C, etc.; User uploads CSV to HotDocs for bulk assembly; (Optional) HotDocs performs data validation/error check to confirm user entered correct answer type (e.g. Yes/No; True/False; Single or Multi-select option match, etc.) HotDocs Assembles 100 employee agreements.

Display template dates in Author Workspace Template Pane and other way to see which are out of sync

2024-05-05T12:36:26Z

In the Author Workspace Template Pane it would be helpful to see next to the template, both the date last revised and the date last uploaded, and to be able to sort on the date last revised (or both dates). Currently, I find I have to exit the Workspace to get this information. If there is a way to show which templates are not in sync with HD Advance that would also be helpful.

Please add the ability to upload multiple documents at once

2024-04-30T19:55:18Z

Currently, we can only upload one doc at a time, if I am working on multiple documents, I still have to upload them one by one which is really time consuming. Please add a function where we can upload multiple docs at once (e.g., drag and drop of templates to the HDA site)

Add "Finish" button to preview screen

2024-04-12T15:33:59Z

What the topic says. It would just be convenient to be able to finish from the preview screen rather than having to return needlessly to the interview.

Ability for end-user to upload or attach a file other than image (excel, pdf, word)

2024-04-03T16:47:07Z

It would be nice to have a variable that would allow the upload of other files, in addition to an image (i.e. PDF, docx, xlsx). For example, during an intake interview, perhaps the attorney would like to have their clients upload pdf copies of court orders related to a foreclosure, or copies of financial documents to assist w/ funding a trust, or death certificates in the event of a probate case. Any documents uploaded by the client would show as supplemental files that would be available for attorney download in the same section as assembled output documents after the interview has been completed.

Add new "Conditional Punctuation" for possessive.

2024-04-01T20:51:23Z

Hotdocs has the ability to calculate conditional periods and such, so I think it would be nice to use that same method to add conditional possessives. Basically, add a conditional Punctuation field that will add either " 's " or" ' " as appropriate depending on the previous character. I know not all style guides format possessives the same way, but you could easily have that as an option for the field.

Allow bulk deletion of work items

2024-03-20T20:20:49Z

As well as allowing users to delete their own work items, it would be great if more than one work item could be selected for deletion at once. Just looking at the very painful process of deleting 400 work items one at a time.

Edit Client Email Template

2024-03-07T00:35:31Z

Allow administrators the option to edit the language in the email template when sending an interview to a client.

Seachable Tags for templates

2024-02-28T22:37:37Z

Allow for the ability to add tags to templates to allow for templates to be organized based more than one criterion, such as those including common component sets or features.

Use of Client Information as saved under Manage Clients

2024-02-14T22:47:39Z

Once the Client has selected our public interview link, the client is then directed to enter their name, email address and mobile number. Incredibly useful feature, thank you. Can we access their information within the answer file and public interview i.e. do we need to ask them for their name again or can we have it populated automatically from the previously entered data. HotDocs is obviously saving the information as it gets keyed into the name of the Answer File.

ERASE Instruction in repeated dialogues

2024-02-09T11:24:18Z

Currently the Erase Insturcion in repeated dialogues does not work properly. For one, it is not possible to only erase the value of only one instruction. But even the erasure of all the repitions does not always function the way it should and does sometimes not happen.

Find Characters in Variables

2024-02-05T20:45:06Z

If we are working on a template and we need to put text right before or after a variable, conditional region, or repeat, it's very easy to end up putting that text inside the actual variable. We will eventually get an error, but nothing in HotDocs Author helps us find where the problem is happening. There should be a search function to find characters in variables that shouldn't be there. Not to delete them (they may be needed) but take us to that location in the template, so we can fix it. It would also help if there was documentation for best practices as to how we should get text out of the variable, and insert it next to the variable, so it isn't inside of it.

Interview/Test Button

2024-01-30T23:15:06Z

Ability to open/test the interview without opening the word document. Visible on the workspace

Include Settings for Administrator Notifications

2024-01-30T18:26:52Z

A variety of notification settings should be available to administrators for more robust user management and template management. The following are a few suggestions for handy notifications. Notify Administrator WHEN: 1. a user has not logged in for more than a year. This would signal the administrator to contact the user or HR Dept to determine whether the account is still needed. If not, then the account may be deactivated to free up a user license. 2. a template has not been used in a designated amount of time (i.e. one year). This would assist in template management. 3. a Client Interview has been submitted or designated as "Approved" in a workflow status. An email is already sent to the user who initiates the interview. However, because client contact information is visible to ALL users in the system, the Admin needs to have a signal to follow internal protocol to delete Client accounts (for client privacy) that are no longer needed.

Option to Remove Numbers from File Names when Downloading multiple Files

2024-01-25T15:20:38Z

HotDocs adds a number suffix to file names "filename (X).dox" when downloading multiple assembled files in a zip file. This completely defeats the Assembled Document Name Computation feature by adding characters that aren't specified in the name computation. Please either remove this feature or make it optional - or only add it if there is a name collision. Our clients have to go through and manually remove all these numbers post assembly. We are receiving complaints from end-users.

Add View options

2024-01-22T15:53:15Z

HotDocs Advance, Quick Documents list - would like to see the documents in list format, rather than giant boxes.

Add ability to Create Excel Spreadsheet

2024-01-14T05:29:00Z

I have several Excel Spreadsheets I use - the ability to lodge into HotDocs would be great