The Definitive Guide to Document Assembly Series
This is Part 2 of a 5-Part series where we dive into the power and building of advanced documents in Filevine. This draws inspiration from an informative Filevine webinar that was hosted by Emily Lippincott and Sarah O'Neil.
To read our previous posts regarding Building advanced documents view the links below
Part I - Leveraging Conditionals for Enhanced Template Building in Filevine
Click here to view the Building Advanced Documents. with Filevine Webinar
Leveraging Collection Sections in Filevine Document Assembly
Lawyers dealing with long lists of complex data benefit greatly by using Filevine’s collection sections. Collection sections store multiple sets of similar information, removing the need to store data in separate spreadsheets. Using them in conjunction with Filevine Document Assembly (FVDA) can greatly enhance your document building process. Collection sections are particularly beneficial when working with complex reports and data fusion. The goal is to streamline the process and provide more flexibility in leveraging the power of FVDA.
There are three different ways to handle collection sections with FVDA: table format, repeating prose, and single collection section sentences. Using a demand letter as an example, we can demonstrate how these formats can be applied effectively.
- Table Format: You can turn your collection section into a table within your legal document. For instance, you could use this in a demand letter to enumerate all expenses. Users have the option to select all items or choose specific ones to include in the table. The table format can be customized based on the specific requirements of your document.
- Repeating Prose: Alternatively, each selected item from the collection section could generate a sentence that repeats the same structure but includes individual data. This functionality is particularly useful when you need to include repetitive information in your document, as with listing medical records, while filling in specific details for each item.
- Single Collection Section Sentences: Another method is to pull a single item from the collection section into the document, without repetition. This approach is ideal for situations where you want to target specific data from an item in the collection section, whether it's a simple sentence or a more complex one.
Learn more on how you can use DemandsAI®, a Filevine document assembly feature that can help you accelerate the demand letter creation process.
Read our How AI Streamlines The Demand Letter Process blog post.
Collection Sections in Outlaw
Filevine provides the Outlaw tool as part of its product suite, which serves as the template builder for FVDA. With Outlaw, you can easily transfer your existing Word templates by simply dragging and dropping them into the template builder. It's a seamless process that doesn't require a lot of effort or complex configuration.
To add collection sections in Outlaw, you can navigate to the designated area and select the type of display you want, such as a table format or repeating text. The process is straightforward and consistent, making it easy to understand and implement. You can use the "plus Filevine underscore" feature to identify and connect with the relevant collection sections in your Filevine project.
Read More about Connected Variables: Introduction
Table Formats
For table formats, you can customize the columns based on the specific data you want to include. You have the flexibility to choose which fields will be displayed and even rearrange them as needed. This allows you to create a well-structured and organized table that suits your requirements.
Repeating Text
When it comes to repeating text, you can use the repeater section in Outlaw. This feature allows you to create sentences or paragraphs that repeat for each item in a collection section. By using placeholders enclosed in curly brackets, you can dynamically populate the text with the corresponding data from your collection sections. This enables you to generate comprehensive and personalized content without the need for manual repetition.
Additionally, Outlaw provides the capability to target specific fields within a collection section and incorporate them into sentences or paragraphs. This allows you to create tailored and contextually relevant content by selectively including the desired data points.
Overall, the process of building collection sections in Outlaw is user-friendly and intuitive. The tool empowers users to leverage the data within their Filevine projects and generate dynamic and customized templates with ease. If you encounter any challenges or require support during the building process, the Filevine team is readily available to assist you.
Utilizing Contact Cards
In our next blog, we’ll delve into the effective utilization of contact cards and their customization options within Filevine Document Assembly. Stay tuned to discover how contact cards can enhance your document creation process and streamline communication with clients.