PDF Forms on Automated Templates

Automated Templates help you save time and reduce the risk of errors by building your document with the relevant content and clauses based on answers you provide in an automated questionnaire.

Automated Templates are available on Lexis^® and Lexis+^®. The forms have both PDF and DOCX formats. This article provides guidance on using the PDF forms.

For information about Word forms in Automated Templates, see Word Forms on Automated Templates.

 Find a PDF Form

On the Automated Templates page, you can find a form using the following options:

• Search by entering a term in the Search for a Template field.
• Filter by Source Collection to narrow your answer set to a specified form set.
• Filter by Practice Area.
• Filter by Jurisdiction.
• Browse through the template list.

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 Appearance

Interview Outline - Section on the left that includes the brief headers of the document . It is collapsible.
Interview - Main portion of the screen that includes the questions for each section of the form. As questions are answered more questions can appear.
Resources - Section on the right that includes drafting notes. The panel is collapsible and is accessible via the "i" icon. The notes are designed to stay at the same level as the question.

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 Create a Document

Automated Forms allows you to create complete documents by answering questions in an interview. Once you complete the interview, your completed form is available in .pdf format.

Take the following steps to create a PDF document using Automated Templates:

1. Select your template.
2. (Optional) Click Build Your Document at the top of the template.
3. Enter the Work Item Name.
   Note: Click Upload if you want to use an existing answer file for your template.
4. Click OK to begin assembling your template.
5. Enter your information in the appropriate fields. The completion status of each section is denoted by the symbols in the Outline. A green circle with a white check means there is information in all the fields in that section. A half green circle means there is information in some of the fields in that section. A white circle means no information has been entered in the fields in that section.
6. Click Next.
7. Continue through the interview. If you want to delete information from a field, click the X icon to the right of the field. Click the Actions drop down and select Clear all answers to clear all the answers from the template.
   Note: If you are in an interview and want to incorporate answers from an existing answer file, click Upload Answer File at the top of the Interview panel and select the appropriate answer file.
8. Complete the Final Document Notes with desired selections for Form Summary, Drafting Notes, or None of the Above.
9. Click Save & Exit to save your answers and go to Recent Work Items or click Finish to go the document screen where you can deliver your document and save the answer file.

Note: You can go to a previous part of the interview by clicking that section in the Outline. Fields are not mandatory.

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 Repeating Dialogues

Some interviews include questions that allow more than one answer (e.g., appellants).  Once you select an entry, the following options are available under the repeating dialogue::

• Add row -  adds a row to the bottom of the rows.
• Insert row above - adds a row above the selected row.
• Edit row - allows you to edit the answer is the selected row.
  Note: When you click Edit row, you can click Add another to add a new row at the bottom of the rows.
• Move row up - moves the selected row up.
• Move row down - moves the selected row down.
• Delete row - allows you to delete the selected row and its contents.

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 Save Documents

You save the document in Automated Templates when you enter a Work Item Name and click OK. You must download the document to save it locally.

Take the following steps to save your document outside of Automated Templates immediately after completing your template:  

1. Click Finish after completing the interview.
2. Click the name of your document under Documents to download the file.

Take the following steps to save your document outside of Automated Templates from the main Lexis^® or Lexis+^® page:

1. Click Automated Templates.
2. Click Recent Work Items in the top right corner of the page to open the Recent Work Items page in a new browser tab.
3. Click the entry that corresponds to the document you want to save.
4. Click then name of your document under Documents on the right side of the page to download the document.
   Note: You must finish the interview for the template to see the name of your document under Documents.

Note: If you have unanswered questions, you will see variables in your downloaded document.

For information on saving Answer Files, see Working with Answer Files in Automated Templates

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  Use the Same Answers Repeatedly

You can reuse answers to avoid reentering the same information in templates.

Take the following steps to duplicate a form:

1. Click Finish after completing the interview.
2. Click Duplicate to make a copy of the interview and go to the Recent Work Items page.
3. Click the row for your duplicate form on the Recent Work Items page.
   Note: Your duplicate form should be listed as Copy of [previous form name] under Work Item Name.
4. Click the edit icon next to the work item name on the right to rename the document. 
5. Click Resume Interview to display the interview.
6. Make changes as needed throughout the interview.
7. Complete the Final Document Notes with desired selections for Form Summary, Drafting Notes, or None of the above.
8. Click Finish.

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 Deliver Documents via Email

Take the following steps to email a completed form:

1. Click Finish after completing the interview.
2. Click Email to display the Email Documents window.
3. Complete the To, Subject and Message fields as desired.
   Note: Only the To field is required.
4. Check the box next to what you want to email.
5. Click Send.

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 Access Recent Work Items

Take the following steps to access a recent work item:

1. Navigate to a form or the Automated Templates form list.
2. Click Recent Work Items.
   Note: If you are in a form that you have not used before, you need to click Build Your Document and enter a Work Item Name before you can click Recent Work Items.
3. Click the document you want to open.

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 Delete Documents

Take the following steps to delete a document:

1. Navigate to a form or the Automated Templates form list.
2. Click Recent Work Items.
   Note: If you are in a form that you have not used before, you need to click Build Your Document and enter a Work Item Name before you can click Recent Work Items.
3. Click the delete icon to the right of the document you want to delete to open the Delete Work Item window.
4. Click Delete.
   Note: If you have not saved the answer file outside of Automated Templates, deleting the form will also delete the associated answer file.

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 Rename a Document

Take the following steps to rename a document:

1. Navigate to Recent Work Items. 
2. Click on the document you want to rename.
3. Click the pencil icon on the right side of the page.
4. Enter the new document name in the name field.
5. Tab out of the field to save the new name.

Note: You can also rename downloaded documents.

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