The HotDocs Computation Archive

0125 - Open a Library with a Word Processor Button

Description:

How to create a custom button on your word processor button bar to open a HotDocs library.

• Explanation •

You can create individual buttons on your word processor's toolbar to run macros that will launch HotDocs with a specific library displayed. This is done with the /lf=<library path and file name> command line parameter [note that this is not listed in the help file under command line options, but under Library File]. Sample macros for Word and WordPerfect are given below.

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• Code •

Word:

Sub HDLibrary
shell "c:\program files\hotdocs\hotdocs5.exe /lf=c:\path\library.hdl"
End Sub
 
 
WordPerfect:

AppExecute( "c:\program files\hotdocs\hotdocs5.exe /lf=c:\path\library.hdl" )

• Explanation •

Word: Be sure that the path for "hotdocs5.exe" matches the program's location on your computer. Also change "/lf=c:\path\library.hdl" to match the location and and name of the library file you want to have opened. And if you are going to create more than one button, be sure to name each "Sub" differently. For example, "HDLitigation", "HDEstatePlan", etc.

I would use a global add-in template to create a toolbar and button to play this macro (in Word, go Tools, Customize, Commands, then click on Macros and drag your macro up to a toolbar), then put that template in the user's startup directory.

WordPerfect: Create a standard macro (a file) rather than a template macro. Be sure that the path for "hotdocs5.exe" matches the program's location on your computer. Also change "/lf=c:\path\library.hdl" to match the location and and name of the library file you want to have opened.

To add the macro to a button bar, right-click on the bar and choose "Edit" from the pop-up menu. Choose the "Macros" tab, and click "Add Macro". Locate the macro you just created and click "Select". A button will be added to your button bar. By default, it looks like a cassette tape. You can change the appearance of the button by right-clicking on the button and selecting "Customize". You can also change the button's location on the button bar by dragging it to a new position.

Note on Program Location: You can always use the hd5start.exe file in the Windows System directory instead of hotdocs5.exe. For Windows 95/98, this is located at c:\windows\system\hd5start.exe, and for Windows NT/2000 it is located at c:\winnt\system32\hd5start.exe.

• Contributors •