Create a Precedent

Smokeball allows you to add Precedents in Word, PDF and Excel format. You can learn how to add a Word precedent by following the steps below.

Word Precedents can be automated and you will have greater flexibility over the style and formatting of Word Precedents.

1. Open a Test Matter in Smokeball
   For example: if you are creating a Purchase Precedent use a Purchase Matter
2. Access the Precedent Library
   
   
    
3. Navigate to the Folder that you would like to add the Precedent to
4. Click Add a precedent or right-click > Add a precedent
   
   
5. Select to 'Create from a blank document'
   If you are adding a PDF or Excel document to the Precedent Library, select 'Browse for an existing document'
6. Give your precedent a name
7. Select the Create a Precedent Container
   Letter, No Footer is used for documents where there is no sign off at the end of the Precedent
8. Select the Addressee
   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
9. Click Create
   
   
    
10. Your Precedent will now open in Microsoft Word
11. If you are creating a Precedent from an existing document, please move on to the relevant section below
12. If you are creating a brand new Precedent, please move on to the relevant section below

How to Create a Precedent from an Existing Document

1. Open the existing document in Microsoft Word
2. Highlight the body of the document and copy it (keyboard shortcut is CTRL + C)
   Select everything below the Re: Line and above the Sign Off
   
   
3. Paste (keyboard shortcut is CTRL + V) the body of the document in the new Precedent
4. Ensure that all existing automation fields from other document automation systems have been removed 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

How to Create a New Precedent

1. Type and format your precedent
2. 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)
3. 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
   
   
    
4. Click Save & Close in the top left-hand corner
   
   
    
5. Try generating your Precedent by double-clicking on it from the Precedent Library

Notes

• To amend a precedent, right-click on it 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