Template Configuration
A template configuration instructs ContactsLaw how to resolve assets in a document template to subscriber-specific resources (roles, fields, workgroups, etc), as well as specifying the document type used to catalogue newly-generated documents. Templates must be configured before they can be used to generate documents.
A template configuration has the following properties:
- Template - The template to which the configuration relates.
- Workgroup - Optional. Add a specific workgroup to allow mapping to the roles and fields defined within it. Leave empty to make the template available globally. You can create multiple configurations to allow the same template to be used in different workgroups.
- Document Type - The document type used to catalogue newly-generated documents. Also allows mapping to the roles and fields on the document type.
- Purpose - Indicates a special purpose (see below) for which the template is used; e.g. as an invoice template. ContactsLaw will select this template configuration when generating a document for the particular purpose.
When viewing the list of templates under the Business tab, a cog icon indicates whether a configuration exists for a particular template. On a Workgroup tab, however, only the templates that have been configured for use within that workgroup are listed.
You can configure templates during document creation, via the Configure command. You can configure a new template for the first time in a particular business/workgroup via the Add Other command; this will create an empty configuration and add the template to the list.
Purposes
- Normal Templates
- Batch Payment - Can be generated on-demand from a transaction group representing a batch payment.
- Brief - Generated when a brief is finalised.
- Fax
- Invoice - Generated when an invoice is finalised.
- Letter
- Receipt - Can be generated on-demand from a transaction of the appropriate type.
- Report - Can be generated on-demand from any built-in report.
- SMS
- Fragments
- Email Signature - Used when generating replies to emails.
Asset Mappings
When initially configuring a template, the list of assets defined in the template will be replicated in the configuration. You must then indicate how each asset resolves to a subscriber-specific resource.
Depending on the asset hierarchy, assets may be resolved using specific resources, or resources relating to the document type and workgroup; such as roles or fields. Other types of assets are resolved implicitly by virtue of the parent asset. Additional options (e.g. address purpose, document filters) may also be provided for some asset types. The general principle is to be as specific as possible, but leave anything obvious empty so that the default logic can be used.
Template configurations also allow multiple mappings for each asset; for example, a contact defined in the template might resolve to 2 different parties on the matter. You can arbitrarily add asset mappings using the Add Asset command.
Note: Changes to the template definition may invalidate the configuration or cause certain assets to stop working as originally intended; care must be taken to re-configure templates in this scenario.