Generating Documents

[jasteakley]

If anyone figures out how to use Houdini to generate a document by combining a Word template with a Houdini matter, let me know.

[Tommy]

You have to have the beta version of 1.6 which includes document automation as well as some other very cool additions.

If you didn't download and register your copy then don't expect to have access to 1.6. It will only be made available to registered users of HoudiniESQ 1.5 and licensed customers.

[LisaBercheck]

You have to create a RTF document as a document template or convert your Word templates into RTF so ESQ can use it and keep all the cool fonts and layout.

You can use the clipboard function with a template and paste into other programs like Mac Pages but it didn't work with WordPerfect. I like creating my templates in Word but the form tools seem very good. I will probably create all new templates in ESQ since it saves them as RTF files.

I asked about the use of Word templates and Annie an engineer at Logicbit told me that they use RTF for creating templates because RTF like PDF is portable. I saved my word templates as RTF opened each then cut then pasted the RTF into the ESQ template manager and it worked. I highlighted each of the old word tokens and selected from my ESQ data. After adding contact and matter info to the template i clicked print and the PDF looked great.

I can now open a contact form and click the document automation icon to choose between email or print using any of my templates.

The workflow is a bit cumbersome when first creating templates but for a beta it looks promising.

I would like to see a import wizard so I can import all my word documents as templates in one go.

[LisaBercheck]

Well it has been some time. I have been creating documents in Houdini Esq and I love it. Putting the document template creation process in the organization manager made the process less cumbersome (as reported in my last post).

I love the fact that I can generate PDF documents so fast from any matter. The time I spend composing responses to common questions has been reduced to practically zero.

I love this program. I can't wait to see the improvements to document automation. So far very nice.

[Tommy]

The MS Word plugin is being expanded to include merges.