Finding and adding clauses

What this is about

A clause library is a collection of proven text blocks that your organisation maintains. Two entries work with it:

• Find Clause – searches the library for matching clauses.
• Add Clause – puts your current selection into the library.

Task menu ▸ Analyze

Requirement: a library

If there is none, the add-in reports either that no paths are configured or that no libraries were found. Your administrator sets up the storage locations.

Edit Library File… lets you view and change a library directly. Changes only take effect the next time the feature is invoked – the add-in points that out.

Finding a clause

You specify:

• Clause Library – which one is searched.
• Search for – what you are looking for, in your own words.
• Use selected text – takes your selection as the search description instead. Handy when you are looking for a better version of a clause you already have.

Without a search term the operation aborts.

The result list

The clauses found appear in a pane at the side. You pick one and then decide:

• Merge – the clause is combined with your selected text rather than replacing it. This is the interesting route when you already have a version of your own.
• Copy – to the clipboard.
• Insert – straight into the document.

Adding a clause

Select the text and invoke Add Clause. With nothing selected the add-in asks whether you want to continue anyway. You then choose the target library.

If the library is stored centrally, you are writing into a body of text that others use as well. Check first that the clause belongs there – and that it is in its general form rather than carrying names and figures from your particular case.

What the search can do

It searches by meaning, not by words. So it also finds clauses that do not literally contain your search term. Conversely, an empty result list does not reliably mean there is nothing – phrase the search differently and try again.