Insert Fragments and Clauses Using the Clauses Tab

Overview

On the Clauses tab of the OneLaw Templates panel, you build your firm's maintained fragments and clauses into a precedent, so they appear when documents are assembled from it. You do this in one of two ways, depending on whether the content should be fixed or chosen:

• Include it automatically. The same fragment or clause appears in every document assembled from the precedent, without anyone choosing it. You set this up with an OA INCLUDE tag.
• Offer it as a choice. The fee-earner picks from a dropdown as they assemble the document, so the content can differ from one matter to the next. You set this up with a clause picker.

Both draw on the same firm-maintained sources: your firm's fragment categories and clause libraries. An automatic include can also point to a one-off Word file, or to a file kept in SharePoint.

This article covers setting up, editing, and removing both. It does not cover OA REMOVE, the third option on the tab, which removes blank lines and paragraphs left behind when content is skipped (see Remove Blank Lines and Paragraphs). The Clauses tab works alongside the Fragments menu, another way to insert fragments and clauses that can also be used in an assembled document (see Insert Fragments and Clauses Using the Fragments Menu).

Note: Click any screenshot to expand it for a clearer view while following the steps.

Who can do this

System Administrators

Template Administrators

Before you start

• Check you have Template Administrator access in Word. The Author Templates group appears only for Template Administrators.
• Have a precedent open in Word, whether you are creating a new one or updating an existing one. The Clauses tab is only available on a document-assembly precedent set to Full automation.
• Make sure the fragment categories or clause libraries you need are maintained by your firm and available to you.
• Decide whether the content should be fixed in every assembled document, or chosen by the fee-earner at assembly. This determines which method you use.

Include a clause or fragment automatically (OA INCLUDE)

Set this up when the same clause or fragment should appear in every document built from the precedent, without anyone having to choose it. You do it with an OA INCLUDE tag, which adds the content when the document is assembled.

Steps

1. Open the Clauses tab

   • In Word, on the OneLaw tab, in the Author Templates group, select Show/Hide Editor.
     

   Result: The OneLaw Templates panel opens.

   • In the panel, select the Clauses tab.
     

   Result: The Clauses tab shows the Include or remove and Clause picker options.

2. Start an OA INCLUDE

   • Place the cursor where the content should appear in the assembled document.
   • Under Include or remove, select Insert OA INCLUDE.
     

   Result: The Insert OA INCLUDE panel opens.

   Note: If Insert OA INCLUDE is unavailable, the cursor is inside a merge field, a content control, or an existing clause construct. Move it into ordinary document text and try again.

3. Choose the source
   • At the top of the panel, select where the content comes from in the Source dropdown. Fragments and clause libraries are your firm's maintained sources. Use a file or a SharePoint link for a file that is not held in a library.
     • From a fragment inserts a fragment from your firm's fragment categories. Choose the Category, then the Fragment.
       
     • From a clause library inserts a clause file from one of your firm's clause libraries. Choose the Clause library, then use the folder list to open folders and select the clause file. Select ↑ Up to move back up a level; the breadcrumb above the list shows where you are.
       
     • From a file inserts a Word file stored outside a library. Select Browse… to choose it, or enter its path. The file must be reachable when the document is assembled.
       
     • Paste a SharePoint link inserts a file kept in SharePoint. Paste the file's SharePoint web link (an https address from Copy link, or the address bar with the file open). The link is resolved when the document is assembled, so it works for every user without OneDrive sync.
       
4. Set the newline option (optional)
   • Tick Remove the trailing newline (for a mid-paragraph include) if the content should sit within a line of text rather than start on its own line.

5. Insert the tag

   • Check the Will insert preview.
   • Select Insert at cursor.
     

   Result: The OA INCLUDE tag is inserted as text at the cursor. It stays visible in the precedent and is replaced with the fragment or clause content when the document is assembled.

   Note: Insert at cursor stays unavailable until your selection is complete. The panel shows what is still needed, for example “Choose a category and a fragment”.

Offer a clause or fragment as a choice at assembly (clause picker)

Set this up when the clause or fragment should vary from one matter to the next. You do it with a clause picker: a dropdown you place in the precedent that the fee-earner chooses from as they assemble the document. Their choice appears in place of the dropdown.

Steps

1. Open the Clauses tab
   • In Word, on the OneLaw tab, in the Author Templates group, select Show/Hide Editor.
     Result: The OneLaw Templates panel opens.
   • In the panel, select the Clauses tab.
     Result: The Clauses tab shows the Include or remove and Clause picker options.

2. Start a clause picker

   • Place the cursor where the dropdown should appear in the precedent.
   • Under Clause picker, select Insert clause picker.
     

   Result: The Insert clause picker panel opens.

3. Choose the source
   • Select where the options come from in the Source dropdown.
     • From fragments lets the fee-earner choose from the fragments in a category. Choose the category in Fragments in category or leave it on (All fragments) to offer every fragment.
     • From a clause library lets the fee-earner choose from the clause files in a library folder. In Clause library — navigate to the source folder, choose the library and open the folder whose clauses should appear. The picker draws from the folder you finish on.
       

4. Set the clause-library options (optional)

   These two options appear when the source is a clause library.

   • Tick Add a <None> option (the author can choose nothing) to let the fee-earner leave the clause out.
   • Tick Allow multiple selections (repeating) to let the fee-earner add more than one clause from the list.

   Note: These options apply to a clause-library picker. A picker built From fragments does not offer them.

5. Add a prompt (recommended)

   • In Prompt, enter the text the dropdown shows the fee-earner, for example Choose a will clause. 

   Note: If you leave the prompt blank, OneLaw creates one from the source: the category for fragments, or the folder name for a clause library. For example, leaving it blank on the Bequests folder shows “Select a 'Bequests' clause” at assembly. A repeating picker uses “Add” in place of “Select”.

6. Insert the picker

   • Check the Will insert preview.
   • Select Insert at cursor.
     
     
     

   Result: A dropdown is inserted at the cursor. It stays empty in the precedent and is filled with the options when the document is assembled, so the fee-earner can make their choice.

Edit or remove content you've added

You can change or remove anything you have added with the Clauses tab, without deleting and re-creating it. This works the same way for an OA INCLUDE tag and a clause picker.

Steps

1. Select it in the document

   • Place the cursor on the OA INCLUDE tag or clause picker.
     

   Result: The Clauses tab shows an At the cursor card naming what is there, for example OA INCLUDE, Clause picker, or Fragment picker, with Edit and Remove buttons.

2. Edit it

   • Select Edit.

   Result: The panel reopens with the tag or picker's current settings.

   • Change the source, options, or prompt as needed.
   • Select Update.
     

   Result: The tag or picker is updated in place.

3. Remove it

   • Select Remove, then confirm.

   Result: The tag or picker is removed from the document.

   Note: You can also remove the tag or picker you are editing using the Remove button inside the edit panel.

Result

You have used the Clauses tab to build firm-maintained fragments and clauses into a precedent. Content set to include automatically appears in every document assembled from the precedent. A clause picker lets the fee-earner choose content as they assemble the document. Either way, what you add stays part of the precedent and runs every time a document is assembled from it, until you edit or remove it.

Reference

The table below summarises which method to use when.

Recommended articles

• Insert Fragments and Clauses Using the Fragments Menu
• Remove Blank Lines and Paragraphs
• Insert Merge Fields and Map Content Controls in a Precedent
• Create a Precedent