Add a Precedent created in Microsoft Word

Learn how to add a Microsoft Word Precedent to Smokeball. 

Word Precedents can be automated and you will have greater flexibility over the style and formatting of Word Precedents. In addition to Word, you can also create precedents from PDF and Excel formats. 

How to create a precedent

1. Create or open an existing 'Test' matter, then select the Matter tab. Use a test matter to prevent unexpected changes in an existing matter. 
2. Select Precedent to open the Precedent Library.
   
   
3. Navigate to the folder where you would like to add the Precedent to.
4. Select Add a precedent.
   
5. Select either Create from a blank document to create a precedent from scratch, or select Browse for an existing document to add an existing Word, PDF, or Excel document.
6. Add a name for your precedent.
7. From the Container drop-down menu, select the type of precedent.
   • Letter, No Footer is used for documents where there is no sign-off at the end of the Precedent.
8. If applicable, select the Addressee from the drop-down menu.
   • If the type of Addressee is not available, add them to the Matter using Matter Settings and then return to the 'Add a Precedent' screen.
   • The addressee drop-down menu will not show up for None and Ask containers.
9. Select Create.
   
   
10. Your Precedent will now open in Microsoft Word.

Creating a precedent from a new document

We recommend creating a precedent from a new document if you are importing templates from another automation software. This method helps to reduce automation errors in a coded document exported from another software at the outset.

You can also avoid manual effort by not including the letterhead/sign-off in your copy/paste (Steps 1 & 2).

1. In the blank Word document, type and format your precedent. If your precedent is a letter, ensure that you only include the body of the letter (everything below the Re: Line and above the Sign Off).
   
2. Add any Smokeball Automation Fields, Asks or If/Then/Elses to the document, if using. Learn more about automating documents.
   
   
3. Select Save & Close in the top left-hand corner.
   
4. Test out the precedent by double-clicking on it from the Precedent Library screen.

Creating a precedent from an existing document

1. Open your existing document in Microsoft Word.
2. Highlight the body of the document (everything below the Re: Line and above the sign-off) and copy it (the keyboard shortcut is CTRL + C).
   
3. Paste(keyboard shortcut is CTRL + V) the body of the document into the new Precedent.
4. If the document's body contains automation fields from other document automation systems, remove them from the precedent. Use the keyboard shortcut ALT + F9 to view the fields and remove them
5. Add any Smokeball Automation Fields, Asks or If/Then/Elses that you would like to the document
   To learn how to automate a precedent, please refer to the relevant articles
   
   
6. Click Save & Close in the top left-hand corner.
   
7. Try generating your Precedent by double-clicking on it from the Precedent Library.

Additional tips

• To amend a precedent, right-click on it from the Precedent Library and select Modify.
• Select the 'None' Container if the type of Precedent you are adding does not require your letterhead.
• Try to remember to use a 'Test' matter when creating precedents.
• To change the Document Container, open the precedent in Modify mode and expand the 'Details' section.