Reheating YourHotDocs Skills
Capstone Practice SystemsAlan SoudakoffMarc Lauritsen
May 17, 2006
The session A review of HotDocs for people who want to develop
templates intended for online use by self-helpers, clients, or staff.
Our emphasis today will be on basic concepts and procedures.
Our agenda today1st half hour
Introduction – history, concepts
Example of template on the national server
More review of fundamentals
Our agenda todayNext 40 minutes
Show & tell: creating and testing a template that will run on the national server
Mechanics of loading and linking to such a template
Our agenda todayLast 20 minutes
Suggestions and resources for effective template developers
Questions and comments
Survey and requests
Introduction
Basic concepts
The national server
Applications (users/uses)
Example
Quick review: Document Assembly
Sometimes called ... “Document automation” “Computer-aided drafting”
Think TurboTax
Typically found in ... Word processing applications Case management systems Fillable forms
Basic Concepts
Templates – model documents Variables – what’s different?
Facts, choices Calculations - numbers, dates,
texts “Logic” – what goes where?
Conditional/optional pieces Repeated sections
Interface - questions and guidance
Template + Answers = Document
Important differences
Templates | Answers | Documents
Interview | Assembly
RTF templates | PDF templates
Desktop HotDocs | Online HotDocs
“National Public ADO”
(Automated Documents Online)
The national ADO service
Templateproviders
AdvisorygroupOSLSA
LSC Lexis
Self-helpusers
Advocateusers
Statewide websitesI-CAN!
Clients
Uses
Document focus Word processable documents Graphical forms, PDFs Personalized instructions
Interview focus Dynamic questionnaires Intelligent checklists Analytical advisors Eligibility assessment Hotline scripts for call center
staff
Users
Self-helpers (unrepresented) Clients (partially or fully
represented) Legal services staff advocates Hotline staff Volunteers, pro bono counsel Law school clinics Other nonprofits
Alternate front ends
Native HotDocs – “out of the box”
I-CAN!
A2J
Online Example
HotDocs versions
Standard vs. Pro Player PDF Advantage option HotDocs 2005
Three service packs HotDocs 2006
Key concepts
Template Variable Component Expression Instruction Library
Variation Computation Conditionality Repetition
Prompts Validation Additional Text Resources
Kinds of variables Text Date Number True False Multiple Choice Computation
Show & tell
Browser
BrowserHotDocs Pro
[Statewide Web Sites]Middleware Web Services
HotDocs Web ServicesHotDocs Online
DatabaseOperating System
Uploading a Template
Template Author
Authoring Environment
Production Server
HotDocs Pro
HotDocs Online
Browser
BrowserHotDocs Pro
[Statewide Web Sites]Middleware Web Services
HotDocs Web ServicesHotDocs Online
DatabaseOperating Systemhttps://digitalid.verisign.com/client/help/id_intro.htm#what_is_id
Activating and Linking
Authoring Environmen
t
User and Management Environment
Template Author
Production Server Statewide
Web Server
Probono.net, Kaivo OST
Browser
BrowserHotDocs Pro
[Statewide Web Sites]Middleware Web Services
HotDocs Web ServicesHotDocs Online
DatabaseOperating System
Using a Template
Registered User
Anonymous User
User and Management Environment
Production Server
Statewide Web Server
Probono.net, Kaivo OST
Middleware Services,
HD Web Services, HD Online
Continuing Your Education
HotDocs general Evaluation
Guide and Tutorials
Program Help in PDF format
Technotes HotDocs
listserv User groups
Legal Services LStech
workgroup Who's Who and
What's What Standards and
Practices LS HDO listserv Multistate
developers WebEx sessions
Details in “HotDocs Developer Resources”
What’s stopping you?
Managing yourself Don’t put it off Start small Keep at it Schedule time to do this Arrange for quick feedback
Links & contact info
http://npado.org/faq http://www.ejustice.org/hotdocs http://www.lstech.org/workgroups/hotdocs http://lists.lstech.org/index.html/info/hotdocs http://www.hotdocs.com {alan|bart|marc}@capstonepractice.com For donated copy of HotDocs Pro (2 per state),
check with your statewide website committee (and if they don’t know, [email protected])
Questions?