Troubleshooting Precedents that use Document Containers

This article outlines two common issues that may occur when opening Precedents that are linked to Document Containers:

• The content of the Precedent shifts to either left or right of the page

• Font settings in the Precedent do not match Document Container font settings

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Content of the Precedent is misaligned to the left or right of the page

When opening a Precedent on a matter that is linked to a Document Container, the content of the Precedent shifts to either left or right. However, when you open the Precedent or the Document Container in Modify mode, they look aligned.

This issue is usually caused by the Indentation settings not being set to zero either in/or both the Precedent and the linked Document Container.

Step 1: Check your Precedent indentation

1. Open the relevant Precedent in Modify mode.

   

2. Select the arrow icon on the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph section in the Word Toolbar.

   

3. The Paragraph window will open. 

4. Ensure the Left and Right fields under Indentation are set to 0 cm while in Normal Style.

   

5. Select OK.
6. Ensure these Indentation settings have been applied to the whole Precedent Document (not just to the paragraph).

Step 2: Check your Document Container indentation

1. Open the relevant Document Container in Modify mode.

   

2. Select the arrow icon on the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph section in the Word Toolbar.

   

3. The Paragraph window will open.

4. Ensure the Left and Right fields under Indentation are set to 0 cm while in Normal Style.

   

5. Select OK.
6. Ensure these Indentation settings have been applied to the whole Document Container (not just to the paragraph).

If the issue still persists after checking your Precedent and Document Container, get in touch with our Support Team.

Font settings in the Precedent do not match Document Container font settings

When opening a Precedent on a matter that is linked to a Document Container, the Font type and/or size in the Precedent does not match what you see in the Precedent or the Document Container when in Modify mode.

This issue is usually caused by the Normal Style of the Precedent and/or Document Container not matching, and sometimes further complicated with additional formatting being applied onto the text in the Precedent.

Step 1: Check the Precedent Style and Formatting

1. Open the relevant Precedent in Modify mode.

   

2. Check that the Normal Style is selected in the Styles section of the Word Toolbar.
   Click on the arrow icon on the bottom-right corner of the Styles section, which will open the Styles Toolbar. When you click on a line in the document it will tell you which Style is applied.

   

   The whole precedent must use Normal Style as a foundation, then you can apply other Styles (so long as the Styles used are set up the same as in the Document Container that this Precedent is linked to).

    

Step 2: Check the Document Container Style and Formatting

1. Open the relevant Document Container in Modify mode.

   

2. Check that the Normal Style is applied in the Styles section of the Word Toolbar. You will have to check each line/paragraph. The Styles toolbar will not open when in Modify mode in a Document Container.

   

Step 3: Check for Additional Formatting applied on top of the Normal Style in the Precedent

If you have overridden the Normal Style directly in the Precedent, these settings will override the Normal Style settings from the Document Container.

1. Open the relevant Precedent in Modify mode.

   

2. Click on the text in the document you are checking and click on the arrow icon on the bottom-right corner of the Styles section.

3. Select Style Inspector on the bottom of the Styles popup.

   

In this example the Style Inspector tells you that Normal Style is applied PLUS Bold formatting:

This means that when the document is generated/opened from within your matter it will:

• First apply the Normal Style from the Document Container;
• Then it will apply the Bold on top of that.

However, if other type of changes have been applied to the Precedent on top of the Normal Style (e.g. different Font type or size), these settings will also override the Document Container settings. 

For example here, the Font type and size has been applied in the Precedent on top of the Normal Style:

   4. To resolve this issue:

• Ensure that the Document Container Normal Style (and any other Styles in your Document Container) are set up with your preference.
  • Check that these Styles are the only Styles used in your Document Container; and
  • That Normal Style is applied to the Body Content field.
• Ensure that the Precedent is using the same Normal Style (and all other Styles) setup matching your Document Container.