Document templates
Reuse your reference documents without starting from scratch: letterhead, an engagement letter or a contract with details to complete. A template keeps your starting point; each use creates a new document you can adapt.
Find your templates
In your workspace, open Manage templates from the document explorer toolbar. The catalogue shows available templates, their previews and their field counts.
Templates are also available when creating a new document. Select the one that fits your task to start from that document.
Import a Word template
- In the catalogue, choose Add a template.
- Select one or more .docx files.
- If you have the required permissions, choose your personal space or the organisation as the destination before importing.
- Select the imported template and open Configure template to check its content and fields.
Use a recognisable name, such as “Engagement letter — advisory”, rather than “Final document”.
Letterhead or a document with fields
A template can be plain letterhead with no fields: write freely in the document you create.
It can also contain existing wording and placeholders for a client name, date or amount. Fields help you enter these details; the working document remains editable.
Create a template from an existing document
Have a document you want to reuse?
- In the document menu, choose Create a template from this document, when available.
- Give the template a name.
- Review the information to replace and adjust the proposed categories if needed.
- If authorised, select Organisation template to make it available to its members.
- Choose Create template, then review the copy opened for preparation.
Ordalie creates a copy with detected information replaced by fields. The original document is unchanged. Check both the detection and the remaining content before sharing the template: automatic detection still needs your review.
Prepare template fields
In Configure template, work on the source document and use the Template fields panel. You can also add a description and keywords to explain when to use it.
To identify information to complete, use an explicit label in square brackets, such as [Client name] or [Signature date]. Then check the fields recognised in the panel.
Placeholders with the same label are grouped: one field can appear in several places in the document. Use the panel arrows to move between its occurrences and check the associated passages.
If a detection is unsuitable, choose Ignore this occurrence or Ignore this field. If the panel reports a removed location, check the relevant passage in the document.
Changes are saved as you work. Wait for saving to finish; if an error appears, check that your changes have been saved before leaving.
Example: an engagement letter
Prepare the letter with [Client name], [Scope of engagement] and [Fee amount]. Reuse exactly [Client name] wherever the same information belongs. This keeps your reference wording while making the details specific to each matter easy to find.
Use a template
- Start creating a new document.
- Select and open the template you want.
- Enter the details in the Fields to fill panel, when the template has fields.
- Review the document, adapt its wording as needed, then export or share it.
You are working on an independent copy, rather than the source template. Editing this copy does not change the template or other documents previously created from it.
When an AI drafting option is available for the selected template, describe the document you need and provide the relevant information. Review the result and complete any missing facts. If the panel displays AI suggestions, you can apply or reject them individually, or use Apply all for applicable suggestions.
Personal, organisation and shared templates
- Personal: your own template, which you can manage according to your permissions.
- Organisation: a template available to members. Only organisation owners and administrators can create or modify these templates.
- Shared: a template another person has made available to you. Permission to use it does not necessarily include permission to edit its source.
- Ordalie: a default template available as a starting point.
Available actions depend on your permissions. View template lets you inspect a source you cannot manage; Configure template lets you prepare an editable template.
For templates you manage, the catalogue includes actions to rename, share, replace the Word file or delete the template. Check recipients and content before sharing.
Frequently asked questions
No fields appear. Is something wrong?
Not necessarily: letterhead can work without fields. If you expected fields, open the configuration and check the labels and detected locations.
I cannot edit a template
Check its origin and your permissions. A shared template may be available to view without being editable; managing organisation templates requires the corresponding permissions.
Importing or saving fails
For imports, check that the file uses the .docx format. If an error persists, keep your file and contact support with the action you attempted and the message displayed.
For formatting, collaboration and export, see @Page. For help, see @Page.