This article explains how to create a template within the Template Manager in GhostPractice®.
Template Manager Overview
Template Manager allows the user to create, edit, import, and export their own data fields into GhostPractice® using our custom-built template builder. The user must have access privileges granted by the system administrator.
The main interface of the Template Manager lists the user-created templates for each process. The Template Editor allows the user to draft a document template according to their own specifications and store it inside GhostPractice®. These templates can then be used by other Fee Earners to generate documents using existing file data.
Creating a Template
- Click Template Manager on the navigation bar.
- Click New on the module toolbar.
Select Common Templates, and the Template Editor will open.
- After completing the Template, click Save on the Template Editor toolbar.
A Save Template dialog box will open. Choose a Sub-process, Posting Code, and Template Type.
If the Template Type is a letter, the system will insert the firm's letterhead when generating the document.Click OK to save the Template.
Using the Template Editor
Components of the Template Editor.
File Menu:
The File menu lets you import content into your template, enabling users to create a new template from an existing one.
Edit Menu:
The Edit menu contains the same options found in other word processing applications.
View Menu:
The Template Manager has two views available:
- Mark-up View - this view allows the user to see all the marked-up content that has been added to the template.
- Layout View - this view allows the user to see how the template would look without the marked-up content.
Insert Menu:
The Insert menu contains a number of options that are unique to the template manager interface.
- Break - creates a break in the document, similarly to other word processing applications.
- Annotation - inserts comments into the template that do not affect the markup but give additional information about decisions made by the user.
- FillPoint - these are variable inputs that will be populated from the details of the matter; i.e., "case number of litigious matter" will reflect the account number of the particular matter.
Conditional Instruction - generates an input only if those conditions are met.
Repetition Instruction - generates an input from several pieces of variable data: i.e., when several attorneys are assigned to a matter, the repetition instruction will insert them sequentially.
- Scrub Mark Up - erases the selected mark up and converts it into plain text.
- Text Box - inserts a text box.
- Picture - inserts a picture.
Format Menu:
The Format menu is similar to other word processing applications.
Table Menu:
The Table menu allows you to create and manipulate tables in your template.
Path Finder
The Path Finder displays the basic elements that can be used in creating a template. The specific attributes available to a template are dependent upon the type of process the user has selected for it.
The toolbox tab of Path Finder contains the input variables, composed of FillPoint, Conditional Instructions, and Repetition Instructions. To select a variable, right-click on it and insert it into the document.
The Styles tab of Path Finder allows the user to customise the appearance of the template.
Editor Description of Selected Items gives a short description of the input variables in the Path Finder.
Annotations inserts comments into the template that do not affect the markup but give additional information about decisions made by the user.