PDF LaserForm Customer HelpGuide 9.7.3

Laserform Help Guide version 9.7.
LaserForm
User Guide
Version 9.7.3
Product help.
REV1140116NH
1
Laserform Help Guide version 9.7.3
Disclaimer
Advanced Legal is satisfied that the information contained in this

document is correct at the time of production. Advanced Legal does not
accept responsibility for any loss of profit, loss of data or any indirect,
special or consequential damages resulting from its use. As the software
changes continuously, it is important that you always check the current
position with Advanced Legal.
All information, text, images and layout are the exclusive property of
Advanced Legal and you are only permitted to print, copy, download or
temporarily store extracts from this document with prior permission. Any
attempt to damage this document or act in contravention of these Terms
and Conditions may lead to legal redress.
Advanced Legal is a trading name of Advanced Legal Solutions Limited

which is part of Advanced Computer Software Group Limited. Registered
in England under number 01738381 at Ditton Park, Riding Court Road,
Datchet, Berkshire, SL3 9LL.
© Advanced Legal Solutions Limited, Jan 2016. All rights reserved.
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Contents
Welcome to Laserform (9.7.3)................................. 1
Setting up Laserform ............................................... 3

The Laserform Configuration Wizard ..................................... 3
File paths .................................................................... 3
Document management system integration ...................... 4
Enable Laserform database retrieval ................................ 5
Installing forms for the first time .......................................... 5
Maintaining practice details ................................................. 6
Maintaining clauses ............................................................ 9
User options.................................................................... 13
Using Laserform .................................................... 19

Using the Forms Explorer .................................................. 19
Opening forms................................................................. 21
Opening old form versions ................................................ 22
Navigating forms ............................................................. 23
Entering information on a form .......................................... 24
Inserting practice details.............................................. 25
Selecting a court ........................................................ 25
Selecting a solicitor ..................................................... 26
Selecting a client ........................................................ 26
Forms of execution ..................................................... 27
Optional text selection ................................................. 28
Selecting clauses ........................................................ 28
Calculations and numerical fields .................................. 30
Formatting forms ............................................................. 31
Field colours .............................................................. 31
Inserting a text box .................................................... 32
Inserting blank pages .................................................. 34
Legal numbering ......................................................... 34
Lform expandability .................................................... 35
v
Paragraph properties ................................................... 35
Screen notes .............................................................. 38
Strikeouts .................................................................. 38
Spell-checking ................................................................. 40
Finding text in a form ....................................................... 41
Saving forms ................................................................... 41
Forms bundle .................................................................. 42
Form update notifications .................................................. 44
Keyboard shortcuts .......................................................... 45
Status bar ...................................................................... 48
Custom form templates .................................................... 49
Creating custom form templates ................................... 49
Updating custom templates .......................................... 50
Word expandable forms .................................................... 51
About expandable forms .............................................. 51
Using expandable forms .............................................. 52
Printing and sending forms ................................................ 52
Printing a form ........................................................... 52
PDF proof document .................................................... 54
Send To function ........................................................ 54
Faxing a form ............................................................. 55
Databases ............................................................. 57
Database overview ........................................................... 57
Editing the Laserform database .......................................... 57
The Practice database....................................................... 60
The Laserform database ................................................... 60
Administrator guide .............................................. 63

System administrator ....................................................... 63
Automatic form updates.................................................... 63
Migrating Laserform data to a new server............................ 65
Forms library online verifier ............................................... 68
Administration toolkit ....................................................... 70
Forms report ................................................................... 71
Organiser ....................................................................... 72
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The Organiser ............................................................ 72
Maintaining client and solicitor details ............................ 72
Maintaining practice details .......................................... 73
Customising the forms explorer ......................................... 75
Forms explorer configuration ........................................ 76
Retaining customisation ............................................... 77
Technical information ............................................ 79

Registry settings .............................................................. 79
Installing PDF995 (optional) .............................................. 89
Upgrades ........................................................................ 90
Change support email address ........................................... 91
Contact information .............................................. 93

Technical support............................................................. 95
Emailing technical support from within Laserform ................. 96
Attachments ................................................................... 96
Accounts team ................................................................ 97
The Laserform Information Service (LIS) ............................. 97
Terms of use ......................................................... 99
Index .................................................................. 101
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Welcome to Laserform (9.7.3)

Welcome to the online help for Laserform 9.7.3, the market
leading Legal Forms package, with a library of over 3000
automatically updated forms.
Laserform 9.7.3 introduces enhanced functionality and many new

features:
• Expandability, including the ability to add additional rows into tables

and duplicate pages
• Automatic calculation capabilities
• Email and fax directly from individual forms
• Full text editing, including autotext feature and spell-checking
• Forms preview screen
• Ability to create form templates
• Facility to email forms in PDF format
• Ability to group multiple forms together
• Facility to verify and update the forms library via the Laserform
Website
All the new features are documented fully in this Help file which
also explains how to install, use and maintain the system. In the
event of any problems, you can contact our trained and
experienced technical support team.
1
Setting up Laserform
The Laserform Configuration Wizard

The System Configuration Wizard allows you to customise system
settings. This feature is only available to the system administrator.
1. Select Admin: Setup Wizard... from the main menu. Click

Next
2. Choose the Document Management System Integration. Click Next.
3. Select the File Paths. Press Next to continue.
4. Choose if you want to Enable Laserform Database Retrieval. Click

Finish.
5. Click OK to re-start Laserform with the new configuration.
File paths
Path Description
Lforms LForms path (Lforms Location of the combined layout and

Folder *.lpw): print files used by Lforms, one for each
form.
Expandable Forms path (the Location of the ‘Word template’ files for
Expandables Folder *.dot): Word Expandable Forms.
Laserform Custom Templates Location of saved custom form

(Templates *.xft): templates.
Laserform Data Files path Location of saved form files.

(LFData Folder *.xfd):
3
The Laserform Form Group Location of the Forms Explorer.

path (Explorer Folder):
Logos (Images Folder Location of practice logos.

*.bmp):
Form Help Files: Location of the form help files.
Auto-FLOV Report Files Location of reports on the forms that

(Reports Folder): have been updated by the automatic form
updates feature.
Document management system integration
In the second stage of the System Configuration Wizard, you can

select an option for Document Management Integration.
If you have no Document Management System (DMS) or you do not

wish to integrate Laserform with your DMS, then accept the
default selection No Document Management System.
Otherwise select ODMA Compliant Document Management

System.
The Front End Profiling option determines whether or not you will
be asked to profile each new form you create, at the time of
creation. If you do not select this option, profiling takes place when
you first save the form.
NOTE Before you can use Laserform with your Document

Management System you will need to configure the DMS itself.
Further information on this is located in the Documentation folder
with your download, or on your CD. Alternatively it can be viewed
on the portal: http://www.advanced-legal.co.uk/customer-
support/laserform/documentation.aspx.
4
CHAPTER SETTING UP LASERFORM
Enable Laserform database retrieval
The System Configuration Wizard gives you the option to disable

links to the Laserform databases.
Ticking Enable Form Database Retrieval allows the details of

courts, land registries and so on to be automatically filled in when
you open a form for the first time.
Unticking this option means that there are no links to the Laserform
databases and forms will have to be filled in manually.
Installing forms for the first time

Laserform will ask you if you would like to install forms now. Select
either Install forms using the Forms Library Online Verifier or Install
forms from CD (or network location)
If you want to install from CD or network location, select that

option and browse to the location of your CD drive.
If this is a standalone install, you will need to do this on each

machine. If it is a server install you will only need to install the
forms on one machine.
Standalone Install
1. When Laserform is launched for the first time, a dialog box will
open, asking you to install forms. Select Yes.
2. Select the location of the forms to be installed. This will either be

on a CD, or another location. Click OK.
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3. All forms included will be automatically download to the appropriate

directories and the forms will be available to use in the Forms
Explorer.
Server Install
Installing forms on a Server installation differs in two distinct ways

from a standalone installation:
• Forms cannot be installed directly via the ‘Server Installation’

option. Instead, the forms should be installed from a client PC after
a Laserform Client installation.
• Forms only need to be installed from one PC, as all other Client PCs
should be viewing the same source files and databases.
To install them:
1. When Laserform is launched for the first time, a dialog box will
open, asking you to Install forms. Select Yes for the first PC only,
for all subsequent PCs select No.
2. Select the location of the forms to be installed. This will either be

on a CD, or another location. Click OK.
3. All forms included will be automatically download to the appropriate

directories and the forms will be available to use in the Forms
Explorer.
Maintaining practice details
NOTE This function is only available to the system administrator.
Information about your own practice is stored in the Practice

database and is automatically inserted into forms where such
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information is required. Multiple sets of practice information can be

stored, and you will be prompted to select a set of practice details
(own presenter details) when a relevant form is selected. This is
useful if you work for more than one department or in several
locations.
Laserform allows you to add, edit and delete practices.
TIP A video showing use of this feature is available to view at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ej_4Y_qLL4.
Adding practices
1. Select Admin: Organiser from the main menu, and click the
Practice tab.
2. Click on Add.
You can then enter the department, practice name and address
(including DX if appropriate), telephone and fax numbers. In
addition, you can specify your Land Registry Key number, LAA
Supply number, and - for Scottish practices - an FAS number.
Note: When editing Practice details, to start a new line in a multiple-line

field, use Ctrl+Enter. Pressing Enter on its own will close the dialog box.
Practice Footer Text
If the field is filled in, it will be used to populate the "Printed by ...
under licence from Laserform International Limited", and "Supplied
by ... under licence from Laserform International Limited" footers
which appear on some forms. If it is left blank then the name of
the practice will be used.
7
Practice Logo
Some forms can display your company logo on the form when
opened in Laserform.
You can upload a logo for the practice using the browse button .
The image must be a bitmap (.bmp) file. An image size of around

40x40 mm is recommended as otherwise it may be re-sized to fit
the allocated space on the form.
Laserform will upload the image into the Laserform Images folder
and add a date and time stamp to the filename.
NOTE The image previewer in this screen may crop the image if it
is too large to fit; however the full image will be displayed on the
form.
Editing practices
Practice tab.
2. Select the practice you want to change.
3. Click Edit.
4. Edit the details as required. You can also edit the Practice Footer
Text and Practice Logo.
Deleting practices
CAUTION Deleting a practice will remove all information for that

practice.
Practice tab.
2. Select the practice you want to delete.
3. Click Remove.
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4. Click Yes to delete.
Maintaining clauses
Clauses are segments of formatted text that can be inserted into

any field on any form. Many Clauses will be designed to suit a
particular form or series of forms, but may be used on other forms
in the system if the same formatting is required.
You can:
• Add clauses
• Add clauses directly from a form
• Define the scope of the clause
• Edit clauses
• Rename clauses
• Find clauses
• Delete clauses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkyBCpvQ_AI.
9
Default clauses
Laserform provides a number of pre-configured and assigned Land

Registry clauses (the Land Registry’s Forms of Restriction clauses)
to speed up form completion and demonstrate the Clause
functionality.
Adding clauses
1. SelectAdmin: Organiser from the menu, and click the Clause tab.
2. Click Add.
3. Enter the text of the clause, and format it appropriately.
TIP you can format text in a different application, such as

Microsoft Word™, and paste it into the text field.
4. Click OK.
5. Enter a name for the clause. We advise that you choose a name
that allows you to easily identify the clause. Click OK.
6. You can now Define a Clause’s Scope.
Adding clauses directly from a form
Clauses can also be added directly from a form by highlighting the

required text, right clicking and selecting Create New Clause.
Defining a Clause’s Scope
Clauses are available for addition into any form, but first must be
made available to either a specific form (e.g. N1), a group of forms
(e.g. Claim Forms) or all forms. This is referred to as a scope.
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Note: If a form is open while Clauses are being added or amended, or

there scope is being altered, you will need to close and re-open the form
before the changes become visible.
To define the scope for the selected Clause, drag the Clause from
the Available Clauses list in the right hand pane, to the form
group or form you want to associate it to in the left hand pane.
The clause will then be shown under the form group or form with its
name and the icon .
You can also add them to the Forms level of the tree so they are
available for all forms.
A Clause’s scope may be changed at any point by dragging it from

one group to another, or from a group to a form. Clauses cannot be
inserted into forms outside their scope.
TIP Use the << button to add the selected clause to a form or
group, and the >> button to remove the selected clause from a
form or group.
Editing clauses
1. Select Admin: Organiser from the menu, and click the Clause
tab.
2. Select the clause you want to edit.
3. Click Edit.
4. Edit the text of the clause.
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TIP you can format text in a different application, such as

Microsoft Word™, and paste it into the text field.
Renaming clauses
tab.
2. Select the clause you want to rename.
3. Click Rename.
4. Edit the name of the clause.
Finding clauses
1. Click Find.
2. Enter the form name in the Find What field.
3. Click Find First to search.
Deleting clauses
CAUTION Deleting a clause will remove all information for that

clause. Any saved forms that have already had that clause inserted
are not affected.
If you want to remove a clause from a form or form group, see

Defining a Clause’s Scope.
tab.
12
2. Select the clause you want to delete in the Available Clauses list.
3. Click Remove.
User options
The Options dialog allows you to specify how Laserform handles
various events.
1. Select Tools: Options from the main menu.
2. Edit the settings on the tabs:
• General
• File Paths
• Field Colours
• Spell Check Options
You can also edit the Spell-checker using the Spell Check
Options... button, and maintain the dictionaries using the
Dictionaries... button.
3. Click OK to save the changes and close, or Apply to apply the

changes without closing the dialog.
13
General
Field Description
Font
Name: View and modify the default font for use on all forms.
This may be overridden on individual forms.
Size: Change the default font size used on all forms.

This may be overridden on individual forms.
Reset to Rests to the default font of Courier New, size 10.

Default Font:
Total number Select the amount of files are shown in the list of recently
of recent file used files in the File menu.
list items:
Show
notifications
of form
updates:
NOTE This is only (available if the system
administrator has configured Laserform for
automatic form updates and enabled
notifications.
Laserform may be configured to automatically update the

forms library automatically. Tick this option to be notified
when forms have changed.
Duplex Printing
Printer Laserform relies on the printer driver to control all

Controlled duplexing, specifically manual duplexing. Normally this
(default): should not need to be changed.
Laserform This should only be used when a printer refuses to duplex

Controlled: manually despite settings to the contrary.
Once enabled this setting forces the printer to use
Laserform
Please note that for printers that have their own manual
duplexing routine, this option should not be selected.
14
Strikethrough option
Select the pattern used when you select the strikethrough function. There is
a choice of single, double or crossed strikethrough.
Form Opening and Saving
When you open or save a form you can choose between:

• Use default folders: Always use the default Laserform
• Remember last folder: Use the last location a form was opened
from, or saved to.
Show Select this option to only show FormHelp when you press
FormHelp F1. Otherwise it will always show.
Only on Note: This option is only available if Admin Mode is
Request:
enabled.
Form Calculations
Turn Many forms, e.g. IHT400+, perform calculations on the

Calculations values entered in fields e.g. to display totals. Turning
Off: calculations off means you have to do the calculation
yourself and enter the results in the relevant boxes in the
form.
Navigation Allows you to change the position of the navigation index

Index: Dock in forms.
Right:
Use Local Select whether or not to save files locally.

Explorer
Cache (Local
Override):
15
File Paths
The System Configuration Wizard allows you to amend the file

paths to the various Laserform folders. For a typical (standalone)
installation you can accept the default paths.
NOTE If you are configuring a Client installation then the paths

should specify network locations and not a local drive (for example
C:)
The paths used by Laserform are as follows:
Field Description
Data: Location of saved form files.
Expandables: Location of the Word template files for Word Expandable

Forms.
Custom: Location of the saved form template files, or .XFT.
Explorer: Location of the Forms Explorer.
LForm Files: Location of the .LPW (combined layout and print files used
by Lforms) files.
Logos: Location of practice logos.
Form Help Location of the context sensitive help library folder.

Path:
Form Help Location of the context sensitive help library virtual folder
URL: (if required).
Auto-FLOV: Where reports produced by the automatic Forms Library

Online Verifier are created.
Override Allows you to specify the default location where to save

Data Path: your forms.
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Change Allows you to change the location of error logs if their

Error32 Log policy does not allow them to write to the default path.
Path
Field Colours
Display and amend the colours of fields and text. Colours can be set
for Fixed Fields, Expandable Fields and Strikeout Fields.
Click on the colour sample to activate the colour picker and select
from a choice of 48 pre-set or 16 custom colours
Classic Colours
Clicking the Classic button will reset your field colours back to the
classic scheme which uses vibrant colours.
Reset Colours
Clicking the Reset button will reset your colour scheme back to the
default colours.
Spell Check Options
You can choose how the spellchecker works, and the main language
used.
The Wspell ActiveX Spellchecker is copyright 1997 by Wintertree

Software, Inc.
Dictionaries
Select the dictionaries that should be used by the Spellchecker.
You can add or remove existing dictionary files, or create a new

dictionary file of your own.
17
You can select a custom dictionary used by another product, such

as Microsoft Word™.
18
Using Laserform
Using the Forms Explorer

The Forms Explorer allows you to view and launch forms, and opens
when Laserform is opened.
To open the Forms Explorer from Laserform, select View: Forms

Explorer.
The Explorer window is divided into two panes. The left-hand pane
displays a list of all the form groups and subgroups.
When a form group is selected, the forms in that group are listed
in the right-hand pane.
Form types
Each form type is identified by its own icon:
• Standard Lform.
• Icon where older versions are available.
• Lform Custom Template.
• Word Expandable Form.
Previewing forms
Click to show a preview of the front page of the selected form.
This makes sure the correct form is selected, and is useful where a
document management system is in use and input is required
before the form has been opened.
A read only image of the complete form will be displayed, which can
be resized or printed.
19
NOTE It is not possible to preview any Custom Form Templates.
Searching for forms
You can search for a form by name, number or description.
1. Enter your search term into the box at the top of the Forms
Explorer.
2. Press Enter or the Go Search button. The results will be shown
below in the right-hand pane.
3. To clear the search results, click on a folder in the left-hand pane.
To narrow down your search click the Find button. You can then
use the parameters to help locate the forms.
Customising the Forms Explorer
You can choose how the form files are displayed:
• View Large Icons.

• View Small Icons.
• View in List.
• View in Report: Shows the version number, description and date
of each form, as well as its number.
The Forms Explorer can also be tailored for individual company

needs. See Customising the Forms Explorer.
Frequently used form shortcuts
Forms you use frequently can be added to the Laserform shortcut

toolbar.
Right-click on the form in the right-hand pane. The form will be

added to the toolbar on Laserform.
20
CHAPTER USING LASERFORM
Opening forms
Opening new forms
1. To open a new copy of a form, select that form from the Forms
window and double-click the form name.
2. You may be asked for additional information, such as the
Administrative Area and Presenter Details when the form is
first opened. You should select the appropriate options, and they
will be entered into the form. These can be changed by selecting
Tools: Insert Form References. See also Form hints.
3. You can now Enter Information on a Form and format the forms.
TIP Laserform tracks the 6 most frequently used courts and local
authorities so they can be quickly selected in forms. When a form
is launched requiring such a selection the 6 most used selections
will be shown at the top of the list in descending order of use. They
will also display in bold.
Opening existing forms
1. To open a form that you have already saved, select File: Open.
2. You will not be asked for any form references as they will already
have been set. To change them, select Tools: Insert Form
References.
3. You can now Enter Information on the Form and format the forms.
TIP The main Laserform screen has a recent files list under the
File menu.
21
Form hints
Some forms provide you with hints and prompts when the form is
opened, closed or printed.
Select Admin: Form hints and prompts Tools: Options and

untick the hints you do not want to view. The hints will reappear
once you exit and re-launch Laserform.
Opening old form versions

In order to respond to changes in legislation that amend forms,
Laserform regularly release Form Updates. These updates invariably
include changes to the form layout or even introduce a completely
new form superseding the old one.
Once a form has been updated (or replaced) any older versions of
that form are deemed obsolete. This can become an issue when
attempting to retrieve previously saved form information that is
based on one of these ‘obsolete’ versions. When this occurs,
Laserform will display different options depending on the specific
circumstances.
Opening a LPW form file
When new versions of LPW-format forms are installed, the existing

versions are automatically backed up and retained on the system.
It is possible to create new forms based on any of the previous LPW
files that are available. This might be necessary, for example, when
a recent change in legislation has resulted in a form update but a
pre-existing case requires that the form previously in force is used.
Where there are alternative versions of the LPW available, the

Forms Explorer will display a different icon for the form:
• Standard Lform.
22
• Icon where older versions are available.
To access the other versions:
1. Right-click on the form and select Open older version. All available
versions will be listed, ordered with the most recent at the top.
2. Select the required version.
You can also use this on forms added as Shortcuts.
Opening a saved XFD/ LPD form file
If the Form installed has been updated Laserform will offer the
following choice:
• Attempt to import the data from the saved form into the updated
form layout
• Open the form in read only mode using the old form layout
However, if the Form is not currently installed Laserform will

advise you that the form is obsolete then open the form in read
only mode using the original form layout.
NOTE If the saved form is a ‘Forms bundle’ then the above choices
must be made collectively for all the obsolete forms in the ‘bundle’.
If required a list of which forms in the ‘bundle’ are actually obsolete
can be displayed once the ‘bundle’ is open.
Navigating forms
When you open a form, the scroll bar will only show you the current
page.
To move through the pages, use the navigation buttons on the

toolbar, or select the page from the drop-down list.
23
Option Description
<< Go to the first page.
< Go back a page.
> Go forwards a page.
>> Go to the last page.
Entering information on a form

When you Open a form, the system may have completed some
fields using the information that has been entered in one or more of
your databases, or form selections made. You may amend this, if
necessary, by over-typing the text that has automatically been
added.
You can:
• Insert practice details
• Select a court
• Select a solicitor
• Select a client
• Add forms of execution
• Use the optional text selection
• Clauses
• Expandability in forms
24
• Calculations and numerical fields
If a document management system (DMS) is in use, you may be

prompted to enter details for each form when you first save it.
Refer to your DMS vendor instructions for further information. See
also Document Management System Integration.
Inserting practice details
You can insert Practice Details into a field by right-clicking and

selecting Insert Practice. You should choose the appropriate
option for the chosen field.
If more than one Practice is available, then the data will be inserted
for the last selected practice, if that is not available, the first
practice entered.
The current field must be large enough to accept the selected data
otherwise a warning message opens. This is especially important
for Address data as it is displayed on multiple lines and so the
current field must be vertically long enough as well as wide enough.
TIP If there are no practice details available, to option will be

disabled.
Selecting a court
Where court information is required for a form, you will be

presented with a screen that allows you to select the appropriate
court. The court information is stored in the database, and can be
maintained by the system administrator
25
You can filter the list by jurisdiction type using the drop-down list at
the top of the dialog.
For courts other than county courts, you must select the division
appropriate to the case. Divisions not available for the selected
court will be greyed out and cannot be selected.
Selecting a solicitor
When information about the other party’s solicitors is required for a

form, you insert it automatically.
This option is only available when there are solicitor-related fields

on the form. The link to solicitor details is held in the form layout
file, and cannot be amended.
1. Choose Tools: Insert Solicitor’s Details and you will be asked to

select the appropriate solicitor.
2. Click on the subject name to highlight it, and click OK. The relevant
information will be inserted in appropriate fields on the form.
This information is stored in the Practice Database , and can only

be maintained by the system administrator.
Selecting a client
When client information is required for a form, you insert it

automatically.
This option is only available when there are client -related fields on
the form. The link to client details is held in the form layout file,
and cannot be amended.
1. Choose Tools: Insert Client Details and you will be asked to

select the appropriate client.
26
2. Click on the subject name to highlight it, and click OK. The relevant
information will be inserted in appropriate fields on the form.
Forms of execution
Certain forms allow for the flexibility of optional attestation clauses

known in Laserform as Forms of Execution. In Land Registry forms,
the recommended Land Registry versions are included in Laserform,
with the option for a custom version as well.
CAUTION If you change your Forms of Execution setting after data

has been input on the current page of the form, you may lose
some or all of the data you have entered.
1. Forms of Execution are selected directly from within the form,

either by double clicking on the text labelled *** Double-Click to
Select Forms or Execution ***. The Forms of execution dialog
opens.
2. By default, you can then select the 2 signature types required.

Single click the format you require under Forms of Execution 1
and then scroll down to do the same for Forms of Execution 2.
3. Each party who is required to execute the document must have a

separate Form of Execution. As standard, Laserform offers two
Forms of Execution. If you require more than two, click Append as
many times as required. You can remove an appended signature
that you no longer require by clicking Remove.
4. Click Close when you have finished adding Forms of Execution.
To edit your Forms of Execution selections, right click at the top of

the Forms of Execution section and select Show optional groups.
27
To remove any of the three default selections click on the S button

that prefaces the particular Form of Execution and the S button will
change from blue to yellow.
Optional text selection
In order to speed up form completion certain forms offer selections

of pre-determined text to insert into forms. The various options are
displayed in a drop down format and the desired text can be
selected by double clicking on it.
At any point the drop down list of pre-determined text can be

accessed by right-clicking the field and selecting ‘Select Default
Text’.
Selecting clauses
There are two methods for inserting Clauses into a form, Manual
Insert and Auto Text.
NOTE Only the system administrator may add, edit or delete

Clauses.
Manual Insert
1. Select Insert: Clause... and a list of all available Clauses for the
current form will be displayed.
Using the tick boxes provided the list can be filtered:
• Form - Show Clauses only associated with a particular form

(e.g. N1)
28
• Form and Folder - Show Clauses associated with a particular

form or form folder it resides in (e.g. N1 or Claim Forms)
• Global - Show Clauses specifically associated with the Form

Groups folder (and not simply all Clauses)
You can select more than one Clause at a time, hold down the
[Shift] key and click on the last Clause. To select individual
Clauses, select the first one and then hold down the [Ctrl] key
when selecting others.
2. Click OK. If you have selected more than one Clause on the list,
your selected Clauses will be inserted in the order in which they
appear on the list.
TIP Click the Show button to check the contents of the selected
Clause.
AutoText
Regardless of its scope any Clause can be inserted into a text field
using the following syntax:
<<test1>> (where test1 is the name of the Clause as it appears in

the Organiser screen)
The text will automatically be inserted into the field when the final
> is typed.
This function can also be combined with Custom Templates.
29
Calculations and numerical fields
Some fields, primarily currency fields, will only accept numeric

characters. By default these fields remain blank until data is
entered in them.
A zero can be inserted by right-clicking the field and selecting

Display Zero.
Unrestricted access to numeric fields can be gained by right-clicking

the field and selecting No formatting.
Fields with no formatting will still be included in calculations

provided the data in the field is in numeric format.
A field with no formatting can be restored to the default setting by

right-clicking the field and selecting No formatting again to remove
the tick next to the option.
Some currency fields contain totals, which are automatically

calculated using information that you enter on the form. If a change
is made to any field involved in the calculation, then the total is
automatically recalculated.
NOTE If you believe that a particular field should be calculated, but

no calculation is present, or any calculations are incorrect please
contact the Laserform Technical Support team.
Overriding Calculations
By default it is not possible to edit fields which contain calculated

results.
Access to these fields can be gained by right-clicking the field and

selecting Unlock data. You will be asked to confirm this selection
and warned that the calculations will be affected by this action.
30
An unlocked field can be recalculated by right-clicking the field and

selecting Lock data to remove the tick next to the option.
Formatting forms
You can format forms using the following:
• Field colours
• Inserting a text box
• Inserting blank pages
• Legal numbering
• Lform expandability
• Paragraph properties
• Screen notes
• Strikeouts
Field colours
Fields within forms are colour coded to indicate the type of field and
whether or not the field is selected.
The background colour will change as each field becomes current

when you move through fields on the form, either by using the tab
key or by positioning the cursor using the mouse.
31
Default Field Colour Definition
Green Fixed data fields, unselected
Blue Fixed data, selected
Grey Expandable data fields,unselected
Yellow Expandable data fields, selected
Red Strikeout Field, unselected
Magenta Strikeout Field, selected
Magenta Fixed data field, with special print settings, selected
With the exception of the fixed data fields with special print
settings, field colours are completely customisable, see User
Options for more information.
Inserting a text box
Text Boxes are user defined fields which may be added anywhere
on current form page. They "float" above the page and so will
mask any text or fields they overlap when printed. (If you wish to
add non-printable text to a form please use the Screen Notes
feature.)
32
Please be aware that, because of the differences between the

screen and print dimensions, when a form is printed the text box
position relative to the rest of the form may not be exactly as it
appears on screen. Therefore it may be necessary to adjust the
positioning of the text box by trial and error to achieve the desired
result.
1. From the menu, select Insert: Text Box.
2. When a text box is active it appears with a coloured background

and a sizable border:
3. Type in the text you want to display and use the mouse pointer to
move and re-size the text box as required.
When you click away from a text box it becomes inactive and
displays with a white background and solid border:
NOTE The border displays on screen but does not print.
Text Boxes and Form Expandability
Note that it is not possible for text boxes and form expansion to
coexist in the same form.
Therefore adding a text box to a form will disable the expandability

features in that form. Conversely, it is not possible to add a text
box to a form which has already expanded.
33
The expansion status of the current (open) form is indicated in the

status bar.
Inserting blank pages
A blank page can be inserted at the end of any form by selecting

Insert: Page: Append Blank Page.
The blank page may then be completed, printed and saved as part
of the open form.
NOTE It is not possible to print a blank page without printing all

pages of the form.
You can remove blank pages by going to that page, and selecting
Insert: Page: Remove Current Page or clicking Delete the
current (duplicated) page button.
Legal numbering
This feature allows text from any field to be edited using the
advanced legal numbering feature within Microsoft Word™.
1. Click the Word button when in a text field.
2. The text from the selected field will then open in a Microsoft Word™
document so it can be edited as required.
3. To return the formatted text to Laserform, close Microsoft Word™,

there is no need to save the document.
NOTE Microsoft Word™ 2000 or later is required to use the feature
34
Lform expandability
Lforms provide expandability in three ways:
1. Field expandability
Due to legal constraints we are unable to provide full expandability
for all fields within our forms library, however where possible fields
will expand to accommodate as much text as required. By default
these fields are coloured dark green (selected) or grey (unselected)
for ease of identification, although your system administrator can
amend this (See Field Colours for further information).
2. Additional table rows

When any field inside a table is selected an additional row can be
added to the table using either the Insert Menu or the toolbar
icon.
3. Duplicate pages
Where applicable, a duplicate page can be added into the form
using either the Insert Menu or the toolbar icon. Forms that include
this feature are pre-selected and cannot be amended.
If you believe that a particular field should be expandable or a

specific page should be available for duplication please contact the
Laserform Technical Support team.
Paragraph properties
Accessible from the Field menu, this option allows you to display
and amend the alignment, line spacing and indentation of the
current paragraph.
• Alignment
Alignment determines the appearance and orientation

of the edges of the paragraph: left-aligned, right-
35
aligned, centred, or fully justified. For example, in a

left-aligned paragraph (the most common alignment),
the left edge of the paragraph is flush with the left
margin.
• Line spacing
Determines the amount of vertical space between

paragraphs (spacing) and lines of text (line spacing).
The paragraph spacing you select determines the
amount of vertical space between paragraphs whilst
the line spacing will affect all lines of text in the
selected paragraph or in the paragraph that contains
the insertion point.
Before
The amount of space in millimetres, from the top of

the current paragraph to the bottom of the previous
paragraph.
After
The amount of space in millimetres, from the bottom

of the current paragraph, to the top of the next
paragraph.
Single Line
Accommodates the largest font in that line, plus a

small amount of extra space. The amount of extra
space varies depending on the font used.
One and a half Line
One-and-one-half times that of single line spacing. For

example, if 10-point text is spaced at 1.5 lines, the
line spacing is approximately 15 points.
Two Lines
36
Twice that of single line spacing. For example, in

double-spaced lines of 10-point text, the line spacing
is approximately 20 points.
At Least
Sets the minimum line spacing.
Exactly
Fixed line spacing that Laserform does not adjust.

This option spaces all lines evenly.
Multiple
Allows the spacing to be amended by a percentage of

the current spacing setting.
• Indents
You can indent a single line in a paragraph to set it off

from the rest of the paragraph.
Left
Specifies the amount of indentation from the left-hand

margin (in millimetres).
Right
Specifies the amount of indentation from the right

hand margin (in millimetres).
First Line
Moves the first line of a paragraph in by a specified

distance but leaves the rest of the paragraph where it
is. You can also create a hanging indent, in which the
37
first line of the paragraph is not indented, but

subsequent lines are.
Screen notes
Screen Notes allows forms to be appended with on-screen

annotations. These are ideal for providing completion guidance if a
form is circulated within a practice.
The notes default to the centre of the screen but can be moved by
clicking in the header of the note, and then depressing and moving
the mouse. The Notes are resizable, and can display in different
colours.
By design the Notes do not appear when printed, either in

Laserform’s native XFD format or as a PDF.
Creates a new Screen Note in the current form.
Deletes the active Screen Note in the current form.
Toggles displaying and hiding all Screen Notes in the current

form.
Strikeouts
Some forms contain fields which must be 'struck out', or crossed

out, if they do not apply. (For example, 'Mr/Mrs/Ms [delete as
applicable])
A strikeout field overlays the text to be struck out, and will be filled
with 'x's if a single 'x' is entered in the field. Strikeout fields are
highlighted in red.
38
TIP You can type a strikeout using X or Shift-X.
Strikeouts fields comprise a series of strikethrough characters on a

transparent background. The default strikethrough is crossed
(XXXXXXXX) but this may be changed to single or double line
strikethrough in the Options; the option selected here applies both
to pre-defined and user-defined strikeout fields.
Inserting a Strikeout
In addition to pre-defined strikeout fields, you can also add their

own strikeouts to a page in order to strike out sections of form
text.
Please be aware that, because of the differences between the

screen and print dimensions, when a form is printed the strikeout
position relative to the rest of the form may not be exactly as it
appears on screen. Therefore it may be necessary to adjust the
positioning of the strikeout field by trial and error in order to
achieve the desired result.
1. Select Insert: Strikeout. When a user-defined strikeout is

active it shows with a sizable border:
2. Use the mouse pointer to move and re-size the strikeout as

required. Multiline strikeouts may be created by increasing the
height of the field.
39
When you click away from a user-defined strikeout it becomes

inactive and displays with a transparent background and solid
border.
NOTE The border displays on screen but does not print.
Strikeouts and Form Expandability
It is not possible for user-defined strikeouts and form expansion to

coexist in the same form.
Therefore adding a strikeout to a form will disable the expandability

features in that form. Conversely, it is not possible to add a
strikeout to a form which has already expanded.
The expansion status of the current (open) form is indicated in the

status bar.
Spell-checking
You can spell-check all pages of the current form.
Choose Tools: Spelling.
Any words that do not appear in the standard dictionary (or the
custom dictionary that you have specified) will be shown in the
Spellchecker window, with options to ignore, add, or change.
See Spell Check Options and Dictionaries to change how the spell
checker works.
The Wspell ActiveX Spellchecker is copyright 1997 by Wintertree

Software, Inc.
40
Finding text in a form

Text that has been typed into any data entry fields in the current
form can be searched for and located.
1. Select Edit: Find Text in Form and enter your search criteria.
2. Click Find Next to locate the first (and then each successive)
instance of your selection.
Saving forms
See Custom Form Templates for creating your own form templates.
You can save forms by clicking on the Save button.
Selecting Save File As will allow you to save a copy in a different

location or with a new name.
If you are creating a Forms Bundle, then the selected files will be
saved under a single name.
NOTE If your system is set to use sub-directories, the default save

directory will be a subdirectory of LFData. For example, if you are
editing a copy of form 109, the file will be saved under
LFData\109. If you are not sure whether your system has been
set up to use subdirectories, check with your system administrator.
If your system uses a Document Management System (DMS) then

please refer to the vendor’s operating instructions. (See also
Document Management System Integration).
41
Forms bundle
This feature allows multiple forms to be opened, edited, saved and
printed as if they were a single form.
See Updating Custom Templates for updating the custom templates

included in the bundles.
• Creating bundles
• Opening bundles
• Switching between forms
• Saving bundles
• Printing bundles
• Deleting a form from a bundle
• Separating a form from a bundle
Creating bundles
1. Open the first form you want for your bundle.
2. Select Forms: Add Form. The Forms Explorer will open, select the
next form you want to add to your bundle.
3. You can add saved form files by selecting Forms: Add Data.
4. You can now Enter Information on the Forms and format the forms.
5. Click Save. The bundle forms will all be saved under a single
name with an .xfd extension.
Opening bundles
1. File: Open and choose the bundle file.
2. You will not be asked for any form references as they will already
have been set. To change them, select Tools: Insert Form
References.
3. You can now Enter Information on a Form and format the forms.
42
Switching between forms
When you open a bundle, a new toolbar will open, Forms in File,
listing the forms available in the bundle.
To switch between forms, select the form from the toolbar.
Saving bundles
Click Save. This saves all data from all forms in a bundle, and the
selected files will be saved under a single name.
Printing bundles
To print all the forms in a bundle select the Form Group option in
the Print dialog.
To print a single form in a bundle, make sure the form you want to
print is open, and select the Current Form option in the Print
dialog.
Deleting a form from a bundle
1. Open the bundle.
2. Open the form you want to remove by selecting it using the Forms
in File toolbar.
3. Select Forms: Remove Form and the form will be removed.
Separating a form from a bundle
1. Open the bundle.
2. Select File: Save As. Save the bundle using a different name. The
copy will be automatically opened.
43
3. Open the other forms that are not required in turn, using the
Forms in File toolbar.
4. For each one select Forms: Remove Form until only the form you
want is left.
Form update notifications

Form update reports apply only to Laserform installations using the
Automatic Form Updates feature to update the forms library.
If the forms library has been updated since your last Laserform
session, then the Form Update Notifications screen will open when
you start Laserform.
Laserform Administrators are also notified if an automatic update

failed.
Any reports generated since your last Laserform session will be

listed by date.
To view details of the forms updated, double-click on the report

name which corresponds to the date of the update. The report
opens in your default browser.
Turn off all Form Update Notifications
If this is ticked then notifications of form updates will not be

displayed again. Notifications can be turned on by selecting Tools:
Options and selecting Show notification of form updates.
Remind Me Later
Clicking Remind Me Later closes the notification window for now,

and the notification will open again when you restart Laserform.
44
Close
Clicking Close closes the notification. It will not display again until
the next update.
See Also:
A full list of historic form update reports may be accessed from the
View menu.
Keyboard shortcuts
When you are editing a form, many functions are available via
keyboard shortcuts. The basic keyboard shortcuts are shown below.
Keyboard Description
shortcut
Tab or AltGr-Tab Go to next field - on next page, if appropriate
Shift-Tab Go to previous field - on previous page, if appropriate
Ctrl-Tab Insert Tab in text
Enter Insert new line (multi-line or expandable fields only)
Alt Move between the menu at the top of the screen and the
form fill section. Enables the menus to be accessed
without using the mouse.
Up Arrow Move up a line within a multi-line field
Down Arrow Move down a line within a multi-line field
PageDn Scroll down
PageUp Scroll up
Ctrl-PageDn Move to next page
45
Ctrl-PageUp Move to previous page
Shift-PageDn Move to last field on page
Shift-PageUp Move to first field on page
F1 Display Form Help associated with the selected field
F3 Paragraph formatting
Shift-F3 - Hold UPPER CASE / lower case / Initial Capitals.

down the Shift
key and press F3
to cycle through
the three
formats.
Ctrl-Shift-> Move to the next form in a forms bundle
Ctrl-Shift-< Move to the previous form in a forms bundle
F4 Add table row
Shift-F4 Delete table row
Ctrl-F4 or Alt-F4 Close form
Shift-F5 Go to page ... [you are prompted to enter the required

page number]
F6 Add duplicate page
Ctrl-F6 Remove current (duplicate) page
F7 Spell Check
F8 Validate Form
F9 Insert date in ‘long date’ format
Shift-F9 Insert date in ‘short date’ format
F10 When the Help, About Laserform dialog box is open F10
will create a copy of the technical information document
in the local Laserform installation folder (C:\Program
Files\Laserform\Laserform\ by default). See Email
Technical Support for more information
Shift-F10 Display Field Menu
46
Shift-F11 Inserts characters into every text field in the form. This
is used for testing purposes
Ctrl-F11 Clear all data in a form
Shift-F12 Prints a list of Field Names in the current form
X or Shift-X (in a Strikeout

field)
Ctrl-A Select all text in current data field
Ctrl-B Bold text
Ctrl-C Copy
Ctrl-D Spell checks current data field
Ctrl-F Show/hide Forms Explorer
Ctrl-Shift-F Toggle "No Formatting" for current data field
Ctrl-I Italic text
Ctrl-N New form file
Ctrl-O Open form file
Ctrl-P Print form
Ctrl-S Save form file
Ctrl-T Insert tick mark
Ctrl-U Underline text
Ctrl-V Paste
Ctrl-W Spell checks current page
Ctrl-X Cut
Ctrl-Z Undo (in current data field)
47
Status bar
This is the horizontal pane at the very bottom of the active window.
Laserform uses the status bar to display information about the
current activity:
• A description of the current field
• The expandability status of the current form:
o form is not expandable
o form is expandable but has not yet been expanded
o form has been expanded
o form is expandable but expandability had been

disabled, for example by adding a Text Box
• This indicator will display on every page of any form with

Form Help assigned at Form level
• This indicator will display on any page of any form with

Form Help assigned at Page level
• The version of the open form
• The LFORM.OCX version (used by the Technical Support Team for

troubleshooting)
48
Custom form templates
Creating custom form templates
This option is only available when Forms Customisation is enabled

and allows partially filled forms to be saved as templates.
It means that frequently used text is automatically inserted

whenever a new form is launched from that template.
See Saving forms to save a form without creating a template.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j_RmvtjRRs.
1. Select File: Save as custom template....
2. Browse to where you want to store the template.
3. Enter a unique name for the template filename.
As well as user-defined text, standard court and practice details and

autotext clauses can also be saved as part of the template, using
the following syntax:
##test1##(where ‘test1’ is the name of the Clause as it appears in

the Organiser screen)
The text will automatically be inserted into the field when a new
form is launched from the template.
See Opening Obsolete Forms for how to update custom templates.
49
Updating custom templates
When the original form that a Custom Template was created from is
updated, the template is automatically deemed obsolete.
To resolve this the Template itself must be updated to ensure it is

based on the latest form version.
As with creating a new Custom Form Template this option is only

available when Forms Customisation is enabled.
1. Select File: Open.
2. Browse to the Templates Folder and select the relevant Template

file (.XFT).
3. Laserform will display a message to advise that the form the

Template is based upon is now obsolete, select the option to
attempt to import the data from the saved form into the updated
form layout.
4. Once the Template is open, check that all the data has been
accurately imported into the latest version, and then save the
changes. The Template is now updated and can now be accessed
without any errors from the Forms Explorer.
NOTE If the Template was created from a Forms Bundle then the
above choices must be made collectively for all the obsolete forms
in the bundle. If required, a list of which forms in the bundle are
actually obsolete can be displayed once the bundle is open.
50
Word expandable forms
About expandable forms
The limitation, inherent in all fixed forms that of having too much
text than will fit into particular fields has been a major concern. The
use of Microsoft Word™ templates provided an initial solution to
this, providing expandability which allowed the fields within a form
to absorb all of the required text by expanding the form, rather
than by reducing the font size. Despite the flexibility provided by
these templates, however, they did introduce a number of other
limitations:
• Conflicts with Word macros used by Practices
• Restricted functionality in certain fields on the form (e.g.

restrictions on spell-checking and font choice) due to the
requirement to protect the design of the form from amendment
• Limited integration with the Laserform databases
These issues prompted the development of Lforms, which combine

the flexibility of Word Templates with all the functionality of fixed
forms. Most of our Word Expandable forms have been phased out
as the entire forms library is replaced with Lforms. We have
however maintained 8 Land Registry Transfer forms (LRTP1-3 incl.,
LRTR1-5 incl.) in this format so that practices who typically input
particularly sophisticated formatting – often a requirement of these
forms - can continue to do so.
See Using Expandable Forms.
51
Using expandable forms
Expandable forms are accessed via the Laserform Forms Explorer.

They are identified by an "e" after the form's name, e.g. "LRTR1e".
Select the required form from the menu, and simply double click.
Microsoft Word™ will open and the form appears as a standard
Microsoft Word™document.
The forms are protected in certain areas, to help prevent the

accidental amendment of required text. Use the mouse rather than
the TAB or (arrow) keys, to switch between the ‘fields’. The use of
TAB can have various effects on forms (access areas that are
unwanted, skip fields that are required and also can push text over
the page). Also, when using arrow keys some fields are skipped,
some "stick" and users can enter text into unwanted areas. Use of
the mouse alleviates all these difficulties.
As the form is a Microsoft Word™ document, if you make a mistake,

click Undo.
Once complete, you can save the form in the normal way a
Microsoft Word™ document is saved, or print the form in the same
way a Microsoft Word™ document is printed.
Printing and sending forms
Printing a form
Press Print form to print the current form.
A print dialog is displayed, allowing you to select which printer to

use, whether to print all, the current, or selected pages, and
whether to print double-sided (duplex).
You may also choose to use the form’s setting for duplex (double-
sided) printing, or to turn duplex printing on or off.
52
If this form has one or more continuation sheets, you may choose
whether or not to print them.
If the DMS Reference number print option has been enabled then it
can be de-selected by amending the DMS Reference checkbox.
Further information on this is located on the Laserform CD in the

Integration Notes folder and in your DMS documentation.
• PDF Proof Document
• Printing form bundles
• 'Send To' Function
• Faxing a Form
Form hints
Some forms provide you with hints and prompts when the form is
opened, closed or printed.
Select Admin: Form hints and prompts Tools: Options and

untick the hints you do not want to view. The hints will reappear
once you exit and re-launch Laserform.
Compatability
Laserform is compatible with all printers that work in a W2000 or

XP environment and use Windows compatible drivers (up to date
drivers may be required). This includes most LaserJet and Inkjet
printers available in the market place, although we do not
recommend the use of Dot Matrix printers. It is worth noting that
the print quality from older Inkjets printers may fall beneath the
standards required by the various Authorities. Therefore, we
recommend a minimum print resolution of 300DPI for finished
forms.
53
Note: A small number of the forms we supply do not fit within the
printable area limits allowed by some DeskJet printers. Whilst we are
aware that such limitations can exist, we are of course obliged to supply
forms that comply with the specifications of layout and content as defined
by governing bodies. If you do experience problems with DeskJet printers,
please do not hesitate to contact Technical Support to determine whether
the form is supported by your hardware configuration.
PDF proof document
For the purposes of integration with case management solutions, it

may be useful to have a list of all the field names on a form.
To create a blank copy of the current form in PDF format with these
field names displayed, go to File > Export Form > As PDF Proof
Document.
Send To function
You can send the open form to an email recipient in either .XFD or
.PDF format.
The form is attached to a new mail message using your default

email package provided it is MAPI-compliant, for example Microsoft
Outlook, and control is switched to this application window.
In the open form, select File: Send To... and select the option you
want to use.
PDF Format
You can send a form in PDF format.
54
XFD Format
The recipient can only read this format if they have Laserform
installed.
Faxing a form
Laserform documents can be faxed direct from the your desktop if

you have fax software that allows faxing via a print driver.
Choose to print the document, and select the fax instead of a

printer.
Once the you have selected OK, the fax software will prompt for
further details. For more information, please refer to the user guide
for your faxing software.
55
Databases
Database overview
Two databases are supplied with Laserform: these are the
"Practice" database (LFMAdd32.mdb), and the "Laserform"
database (LFM7db.mdb).
• The Practice database contains information specific to your

practice: for example, details of the forms you own, clause data
and the name and address of your practice.
• The Laserform database contains reference data, such as names

and addresses of courts, land and probate registries, water
companies and local authorities. Much of this data can be inserted
into forms where appropriate.
Note: You should take backups of your databases on a regular basis to

avoid data loss or corruption.
Editing the Laserform database
The Laserform database holds reference data that can be inserted

into any form, but which is the same for all companies: for
example, there is a directory of all District Land Registry addresses.
Caution: It is strongly recommended that you consult the Laserform

Technical Support team if you are considering changes to data stored in
the Laserform database. This is particularly true if you are removing
57
records or modifying data items that may be keys (typically labelled as

‘ID’, but this is not always the case). Backing up the database should
make contingency for not only losing data, but also destroying the
integrity of the database, before any changes are made.
Via the Laserform database, you can maintain details of:
• Courts
• Land Registry offices
• Local Authorities (see also Local Authorities database)
• Land Registry Executions
• Probate Registries
• Water Companies
• Court Fees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yx0ji436S8.
Adding records:
1. Select Admin: Manage Database.... The Laserform Data

Source Administrator dialog will open.
2. Highlight the database you want to edit. The list of records will be
shown.
3. Click Add.
4. Enter the details as required.
5. Click OK button saves changes to the database.
58
CHAPTER DATABASES
Editing records:

shown.
3. Select the record you want to change, and click Edit.
4. Edit the details as required.
5. Click OK button saves changes to the database.
Removing records:
CAUTION Removing records will delete them from the database.

shown.
3. Select the record you want to remove, and click Remove.
4. Click Yes to remove it.
59
The Practice database

The Practice database contains information that is specific to your
company: for example, the name and address of your company,
and information about the forms installed on your system. It is also
where field data source information is stored.
You can use the Organiser to edit details of Clauses, Clients and
Solicitors as well as your own Practice - all of which are stored in
the Practice database.
The Practice database is named LFMADD32.MDB.
The Laserform database

The Laserform database holds reference data that can be inserted
into any form, but which is the same for all companies: for
example, there is a directory of all District Land Registry addresses.
The contents of the Laserform database can only be amended by

the system administrator. See Editing the Laserform database.
New versions of the database are supplied by Laserform from time

to time.
The database contains the following reference tables:
• Courts
• Local Authorities (including detailed information available via the

"Local Authority References" viewing feature)
• Probate Registries
• Court Fees
• Land Registries
60
CHAPTER DATABASES
• Water Companies
Information contained within the "Laserform" database is by its

very nature susceptible to change. Users are therefore encouraged
to verify information recorded in databases before use and advise
Laserform International of any corrections, so that the master
database may be kept as up-to-date as possible and customers
advised of any significant changes.
Court information is available for users to insert into court forms.

Selection of a High Court defaults to the Queens Bench Division
(this being the most common selection), although users may select
Chancery or "Blank" to be inserted into the relevant fields.
The Laserform database is named LFM7DB.MDB.
61
Administrator guide
System administrator
The Administrator can configure your installation of Laserform,
install Clauses, customise the forms explorer, maintain data in the
various databases and customise Form Help.
The Administrator functions are presented on a password-protected

menu, which can be accessed by selecting Tools: Enter Security
Code. Input the code to enable the Admin menu.
NOTE The security code can be obtained form the support team.
Administrators also have the option to amend the Security code by

selecting Admin: Change Security Code.
CAUTION This change will affect all users, not just the individual
PC.
Automatic form updates
Laserform may be configured to automatically update the forms

library.
63
As with manual updates via the Forms Library Online Verifier you
must have both a live internet connection and an Online Services
username/password.
To use this feature first install the Laserform Administration Toolkit

add-in.
• Automatic form updates are scheduled using the Window Task

Scheduler.
• If Laserform is installed Client Server then automatic updates

should be set up on a single Laserform client.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J_B6yPnyZI.
Setting Up Automatic Form Updates in Laserform
1. Select Admin: Forms Library Online Verifier and click Options... to

open the Forms Library Online Verifier Options screen.
2. Complete the Automatic Form Updates section of this screen and

either allow Laserform to create the scheduled task or create your
own.
Once Automatic Updates are running the results of the last update
and any reports generated may be viewed from the Form Update
Reports screen available under the View menu.
64
CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR GUIDE
Migrating Laserform data to a new

server
The following article outlines the steps required to migrate your
Laserform data to a new server.
Before you start
Please be aware of the following:
• The Laserform server files consist of Access database files, Shortcut

links and various other Laserform files. No additional software
needs to be installed on the server (such as SQL).
• If you use mapped drives or the new server name is identical as the
old server, you may not need to make any changes to the client
machines, providing you keep all folder structures the same on your
new server.
• You can find out where the existing files are located by clicking
“Tools > Options” within Laserform - This usually consists of a top
level folder and various sub folders, typically called Dbase,
Expandables, Explorer, FormHelp, LFData, LFM_Upgrade, LForms,
Templates.
• If the old and new server names are different, you will need both
servers to be accessible at the same time while you configure the
client / server (as described below).
• Changes may be required to every client workstation’s registry, you

may wish to roll these new settings out via a login script -This is
not covered by these instructions.
• All users will need to have Laserform closed before commencing

moving the data to the new server.
65
• In the event that you experience any issues after moving the data
to the new server, we advise that you retain the data on your old
server until you are satisfied that there are no issues, or keep a
separate backup of the server files.
• We advise retaining the same permissions on the folders moved

across to the new server.
Steps Required
1. Copy the Laserform folders to the new server and share out root
folder as appropriate.
2. On each client machine, change the DBQ values under the following
registry keys to the new location of the Dbase folder on your new
server:
32Bit
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ODBC\ODBC.INI\LFM8D
BLA
BMAIN
BPRACT
64Bit
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\ODBC\O
DBC.INI\LFM8DBLA
DBC.INI\LFM8DBMAIN
DBC.INI\LFM8DBPRACT
66
3. On each client machine, change the ServerRoot string value under

the following registry keys to the new location of the Laserform
share on your new server:
32Bit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Laserform\LFM9
64Bit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Laserform\L
FM9
4. On each client machine, change the

E751D956BCD73E642BD1B82E3536A5D7 string value under
the following registry key to the new location of the Laserform
share on your new server:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current
Version\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-
18\Components\18D8A725F4C075B4F99796949B97A57D
5. On one machine click Admin > Setup Wizard > Next > Next,
and change the paths to the new locations of each folder, finish the
wizard and then restart Laserform.
6. When Laserform has been re-launched, click Admin > Rebuild

Default Explorer (or Rebuild Customised Explorer if you use
customisation).
7. You should now be able to turn off the old server.
67
Forms library online verifier
The system administrator can use the Forms Library Online

Verifier to connect to the Laserform website in order to check that
all the forms the practice is subscribed to are installed and up-to-
date. Once a connection is established, your form subscription will
be read, and versions number of all installed forms will be
compared to the latest versions stored on the website.
• Any obsolete forms which need to be removed will be flagged.
• Any out of date forms will be flagged.
• Any out of date forms can be updated automatically by checking

the appropriate tick box.
• Any subscribed forms yet-to-be-installed will be flagged and can be

updated automatically by checking the appropriate tick box.
• Once a form update is completed a report can be generated using

the ‘Report Installed Forms’ button.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjVAtkAa3W0
To use the Forms Library Online Verifier Options screen:
1. Select Admin: Forms Library Online Verifier and click

Options... to open the Forms Library Online Verifier Options
screen.
2. Click OK to save the details.
68
Laserform Online Forms Verifier Login Details
Username This can be supplied by Technical support.

and If you already have a username/password to access the
Password: Online Services area of our website, these credentials can
also be used for the Forms Library Online Verifier.
Test Click to verify you can log in.

Connection:
Sign me in Automatically sign you in to the service.

automatically:
Automatic Form Updates
Install form Tick to enable auto updates.

updates
automatically
Disable Intended for use in Client-Server installations, ticking this

notifications will prevent the Form Update Notification screen from
of form being displayed when non-Admin users launch Laserform.
updates for As a system administrator you will still see notifications
all non- on launching Laserformunless you switch these off in the
Admin Users: Options screen.
Schedule Task
Automatic form updates are scheduled an run in the Windows Task
Scheduler.
Here you can either ask Laserform to create the scheduled task or else
build the command line you will need to add your own scheduled task to
the Windows Task Scheduler.
I will create This is the only option available to users running XP or

my own Server 2003.
scheduled The command required to update your forms subscription
task: is displayed in the box below. Copy the text and use it to
create a scheduled task in your Windows Task Scheduler.
69
Create a This option is not available to users running XP or Server

scheduled 2003.
task: • Select the frequency and time you'd like the
updates to run
• Enter your network username and password
A windows scheduled task will be created on clicking [OK]
- if successful the message "Task Submitted" displays.
To amend the scheduled task, for example the time at
which it runs, you may return to this screen and re-
enter all the details and the new task will replace the
original one.
Alternatively you may edit the task in Windows Task
Scheduler itself where you will find many more options
to fine-tune the task to you exact requirements. You
can only specify to run the task when the user is
logged off if Laserform is installed standalone, or
connects to a server share using UNC. You cannot run
when logged off if using a mapped drive as it will not
be visible whilst logged off.
Remove Automatically remove forms that are no longer needed.

obsolete
forms:
Administration toolkit
The Administration Toolkit is a Laserform add-in providing extra

administration features.
It may be installed by the system administrator for either a

Standalone Laserform or a Laserform Client in Client-Server
configurations.
70
Administration Toolkit Features
Automatic Forms Updates - form updates run in the background at

scheduled intervals
Installing
1. Select Admin: Add-ins: Administration Toolkit. If there is a tick

next to the option, then it is already installed..
2. Click OK to install. The installation wizard will then guide you

through the installation.
The LfmAdmin executable will installed on your machine at the

target location: by default C:\Program Files\Laserform\LfmAdmin\.
Uninstall
To uninstall Select Admin: Add-ins: Administration Toolkit.

Click OK at the prompt to proceed.
Forms report
You can produce a formatted text report of all forms installed on

the system.
1. Select: Admin: Create Forms Report.
2. This report is saved to the LFData folder by default, but you can
choose to save it where you require.
71
3. The text file may then be printed or imported into another

application for further formatting.
Organiser
The Organiser
The Organiser is available via the Admin menu, and is only

available if you are logged in as the System Administrator. It allows
you to view and edit details of Clauses, Clients, Solicitors and your
Practice details.
Maintaining client and solicitor details
Information about Clients and Solicitors is stored in the Practice

database and can be inserted into forms where such information is
required. This can be especially useful in certain land registry
forms.
These details are maintained via the Organiser option on the

Admin menu, by selecting either the Client or Solicitor tab. You
may add, delete and edit details from here.
72
Maintaining practice details
Information about your own practice is stored in the Practice

database and is automatically inserted into forms where such
information is required. Multiple sets of practice information can be
stored, and you will be prompted to select a set of practice details
(own presenter details) when a relevant form is selected. This is
useful if you work for more than one department or in several
locations.
Laserform allows you to add, edit and delete practices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ej_4Y_qLL4.
Adding practices
Practice tab.
2. Click on Add.
You can then enter the department, practice name and address
(including DX if appropriate), telephone and fax numbers. In
addition, you can specify your Land Registry Key number, LAA
Supply number, and - for Scottish practices - an FAS number.
Note: When editing Practice details, to start a new line in a multiple-line

field, use Ctrl+Enter. Pressing Enter on its own will close the dialog box.
73
Practice Footer Text
If the field is filled in, it will be used to populate the "Printed by ...
under licence from Laserform International Limited", and "Supplied
by ... under licence from Laserform International Limited" footers
which appear on some forms. If it is left blank then the name of
the practice will be used.
Practice Logo
Some forms can display your company logo on the form when
opened in Laserform.
You can upload a logo for the practice using the browse button
.
The image must be a bitmap (.bmp) file. An image size of around

40x40 mm is recommended as otherwise it may be re-sized to fit
the allocated space on the form.
Laserform will upload the image into the Laserform Images folder
and add a date and time stamp to the filename.
NOTE The image previewer in this screen may crop the image if it
is too large to fit; however the full image will be displayed on the
form.
Editing practices
Practice tab.
2. Select the practice you want to change.
3. Click Edit.
4. Edit the details as required. You can also edit the Practice Footer
Text and Practice Logo.
74
Deleting practices
CAUTION Deleting a practice will remove all information for that

practice.
Practice tab.
2. Select the practice you want to delete.
3. Click Remove.
Customising the forms explorer
The option to customise the Forms Explorer is only available to

Administrators and is enabled via the Admin menu by selecting the
‘Customise Forms Explorer’ option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2-KstAvnxQ.
• Customisation allows Administrators to set up a tailored global

Explorer view
• It is recommended that a backup of the Explorer folder is taken

before major changes to the Forms Explorer are conducted (see
Forms Explorer Configuration)
75
• The Forms Explorer must not be modified directly from Windows

Explorer otherwise the Rebuild Customised Explorer function will
not work (this is often used by the Support Team to restore the
links to forms as part of the troubleshooting process).
• The default Forms Explorer layout can be restored at any time

using the Rebuild Default Explorer option from the Admin menu.
Please note however that any changes made to the Forms Explorer
will be lost at this point
Customisation Options
• Rename Forms and Folders - via the File menu
• Delete unused Forms and Folders - via the File menu
• Add new Folders - via the Customise menu
• Move or Copy Forms and Folders - via the Customise menu, or by

dragging icons within the Forms Explorer.
Forms explorer configuration
The layout of the Forms Explorer is stored in a folder called Explorer

in the main Laserform directory. In networked installation of
Laserform this will be located on the Server, along with the
databases and form files.
• In order to maximise performance for networked installations, a

copy of the Forms Explorer folder is copied (cached) to each client
machine when Laserform is launched. The cache is stored in the
Laserform application folder in a folder called ExplorerCache. This
may be disabled in appropriate circumstances, please contact
Technical Support for more information
76
• This cache can be refreshed from the network by selecting F5. This
will re-copy the Forms Explorer to reflect any changes
• When the Customise Forms Explorer option is enabled then the

Cache option is disabled to ensure it is the network copy of the
Forms Explorer that is amended. Also, please note that a text file
called ‘LFM-CUSTOM.LOG’ is created in the Explorer folder to record
any customisation that is made. Do not delete this file or the
Rebuild Customised Explorer option will not work.
Retaining customisation
Whenever a change is made to the Forms Explorer from within

Laserform, the details are logged in the Explorer Folder (See
Forms Explorer Configuration) to ensure that a record of these
changes exists. This information is then used to restore the
explorer to its custom state if either of the following events occur:
• A forms update is applied
• The Rebuild Customised Explorer option is selected
When this option is selected any forms installed on the system (i.e.
that have files in the Expandables, Layouts or Lforms folders) that
do not already have a shortcut in the Forms Explorer will have a
new shortcut created in the Custom, Recovered folder in the
subfolder Fixed, Lform or Expandable. Each Practice can then
choose to delete these new shortcuts or move them as required.
77
Technical information
Registry settings
Laserform uses the following registry entries. You should not
change these settings except as instructed by Laserform Technical
Support.
Many of these registry settings can be viewed, and some can be

amended, via the Options screen.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Lform]
"XFN" … Used internally. DO NOT AMEND.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Shared]
Used internally. DO NOT

"Colours" …
AMEND.
Enables and disables

"ShowFormHelpOnlyOnRequest" … show help automatically
option.
0 = Disabled (default)
1 = Enabled

"ShowWordButton" … Word Integration with
Lforms.
79
1 = Enabled
"StrikeChar" …
AMEND.
"StrikeShow" …
AMEND.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform\DMS_ODMA]
Document Management System

"DMSName" …
information.
0 = None
1 = ODMA
"DMSPath" … Used internally. DO NOT AMEND.
"DMSType" … Legacy option, no longer used.
"ForceFileName" … Legacy option, no longer used.
Determines whether the user is
"FrontEndProfiling" … prompted to profile each new form at
the time of creation.
0 = Back End Profiling
1 = Front End Profiling
"Status" … Enables or disables DMS integration.
0 = Not using Document Management System
1 = Using Document Management System
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform\MFU]
Specifies the maximum number of

"ListLength" [DWORD frequently used items that are displayed in
Value] … the Form References selection list. This
key does not appear by default.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform\MFU\
Company]
80
CHAPTER TECHNICAL INFORMATION
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform\MFU\ Court]
Land_Registry]
LocalAuthorities]
LocalAuthority]
Probate]
[Above keys contain frequent use list for each area.]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform\Options]
Note an option that is set to its default value will not be stored in
the registry.
Enables and disables the Adjust

Font Line Spacing option.
"ADJUST_TEXT_TO_FIT" …
FALSE = Disabled
TRUE = Enabled (default)
Used internally. DO NOT AMEND.
"CACHE_FORCED_OFF" …

customisation of the forms
"CUSTOM_FOLDERS_ENABLED" …
explorer.
FALSE = Disabled
TRUE = Enabled
81
Specifies if Laserform databases

are enabled.
"DB_RET_ON" …
0 = False
1 = True (default)
Specifies if the default font is set
to Bold.
"DEFFONTBOLD" …
0 = False (default)
1 = True
Specifies if the default font is set
to Italic.
"DEFFONTITALIC" …
0 = False (default)
1 = True
Specifies the default font (default
is Courier New).
"DEFFONTNAME" …
Specifies the size of the default

font (default is 9.75).
"DEFFONTSIZE" …
Custom dictionaries used by

WSpell spellchecker.
"DICTIONARIES" …
Enables option to save files

locally from a DMS.
"DMSSAVELOCAL" …
0 = Disabled
1= Enabled
Indicates the alignment of the
DMS print id if enabled.
"DOCIDJUSTIFICATION" …
0 = Right Aligned
1 = Left Aligned
2 = Centre Aligned
82
Specifies the length of time in

milliseconds that Laserform will
"DOUBLECLICKSLEEEP" [STRING
wait when a toolbar shortcut is
Value] … double-clicked. This key does not
appear by default.
Indicates the current default
duplex setting.
"DUPLEXPRINTING" …
0 = Form Setting
1 = Always On
2 = Always Off
3 = Simulated Duplex
Specifies whether or not the
online support features (email
"ESUPPORT" [STRING Value] … technical support and link to the
website) are visible or not. This
key does not appear by default.
0 = Disabled
1 or no key present = Enabled (default)
0 - Used Internally. DO NOT
AMEND.
"HOTTRACKINGON" …
If REMEMBER_OPEN_FOLDER is
enabled this key specifies the
"LAST_FOLDER" …
actual folder to remember.
Outputs messages to the screen

when running the File Upgrade
"LFM_UPD_DEBUG" …
Utility.
Enables or disables the File

Upgrade Utility (this key does not
"LFM_UPDATE" …
appear by default).
0 = Disabled
1 or no key present = Enabled
The web address of the
Laserform Web Site customer
"LFM_WEB_ADDRESS" …
login page.
83

"LFORMUPDATEFILENAME" …
Number of entries in the Most

Recently Used files list.
"MRU" …

"MULTI_SELECT" …
Allows automatic calculations in

forms to be disabled.
"NO_CALCS" …
Enables printing of DMS

document reference numbers.
"ODPRINTID" …
0 = Disabled
1 = Enabled
Determines the action to take
when automatically filled data is
"OFLOWACTION" …
too long for a text box.
0 = Truncate data
1 = Reduce font size
2 = Change line breaks to commas
3 = Show a warning
4 = Smart resizing (default)
Enables or disables beep when
autofill text overflows field.
"OFLOWBEEP" …
0 = false
1 = true
Check whether text fits in field
before printing.
"OFLOWCHECK"…
0 = false
1 = true
84

"OFLOWRTFTODB"…
Moves Organiser option from the

Admin to the Tools menu.
"ORGANISER" …
1 = Enabled
If USE_PAPER_DEF is enabled
"PAPER" … this key identifies the default
paper source for Forms.
Specifies the PDF995 installation
path (default = C:\PDF995).
"PDF995_PATH" …
If USE_PRN_DEF is enabled this

key Identifies which printer
"PRINTER" …
Laserform uses by default.
Enables the option to always use

the last folder by default when
"REMEMBER_OPEN_FOLDER" …
opening a saved form.
0 = false (default)
1 = true
"RES" …

"SECURITY" …
Used to enable and disable Send

To options.
"SENDTO" …
-1 = Enables all Send to options (default)

0 = Disables all Send to options
2 = Disables Send to Email only
3 = Disable Send to PDF
85
Used to omit the Practice Details

from the Scottish reference
"SHORTSCOTTISHNUMBER" …
number when printed on a form.
1 = Enabled
Specifies how duplexing is
controlled.
"SIMULATEDUPLEX" …
0 = Printer controlled (default)

1 = Laserform controlled
Specifies if subdirectories should
be used to store data files.
"SUBDIRS"…
0 = false (default)
1 = true
Enables Forms Explorer cache.
"USE_LOCAL_EXPLORER_CACHE"
…
TRUE = Enabled
FALSE = Disabled
Enables facility to specify a
default printer tray separate to
"USE_PAPER_DEF" …
the Windows default.
0 = Disabled
-1 = Enabled
Enables facility to specify a
printer for Laserform separate to
"USE_PRN_DEF" …
the Windows default printer.
0 = Disabled
1 = Enabled
"VIEWMODE"…
86

"WNDPOS" …
Legacy option, no longer used.

"WORDVERSION"…

"ZOOM" …
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform\Options\For
msbar]
One
entry
per
item on
the
"Formsbar" … shortcut
bar.
Each
entry
consists
of:
"Caption"
"FileName"
"Tag"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform\Paths]
"Data" … Location of saved form files.
87
"Expandables" … Legacy option, no longer used.
Location of Forms Explorer source

"Explorer" …
folder.
Location of local copy of explorer

"ExplorerCache" … data (used in network installations
only).
"Help" … Location of LFM help.
"HelpPath" … Location of form help files.
"Layouts" … Legacy option, no longer used.
"Layouts" … Legacy option, no longer used.
"LfmSupportAddress" Email address to which errors

… reports are sent.
"Lforms" … Location of the Lform LPW files.
"PrintForms" … Legacy option, no longer used.
88
URL of the Forms Library Online

"OLFV_URL" …
Verifier.
Location of custom saved form

"Templates" …
templates.
"TTFPrt" … Legacy option, no longer used.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Laserform\Laserform\RecentFileList
]
[Above key contains recent file list, 1-9]
Installing PDF995 (optional)

PDF995 is a PDF printer utility as well as printing Laserform to PDF;
it allows you to do three main things in Laserform:
1. Print out a PDF Proof document
2. Save As PDF
3. Email as PDF
You can use other PDF Printers to print to if you just want to print
the Laserform itself, you just won’t have the advanced functionality
stated above.
In order to use the PDF functionality of Laserform it will be

necessary to install PDF995 as per the following instructions:
89
1. Browse to the Products folder on your CD or download.
2. Open the PDF995 folder.
3. Run the autosetup which will silently install the necessary PDF995
components for PDF creation in Laserform. This will be a silent
install and should take less than one minute.
NOTE As of Laserform 9.7.3, Laserform now incorporates a

licensed version of PDF995. If you have previously installed an
unlicensed version of PDF995, you will be required to uninstall this
and follow the steps in Installing PDF995 to obtain a licensed
version. Please note that PDF995 will only be licensed for use in
Laserform, and if it is used in conjunction with other software you
will still receive the sponsor pages.
Upgrades
Laserform provides product upgrades, database upgrades and form
updates.
• Product upgrades - new versions of Laserform- will be released

periodically: they may contain new features, or optimised code.
• Database upgrades - new versions of the Laserform database -

will contain up-to-date information about Land Registry, Local
Authorities, Courts etc.
Please note: Applying such an upgrade may overwrite amendments
made by your system administrator. We recommend that you back
up your databases before installing an upgrade.
• Form updates - new versions of the files used for forms - will be
released in the event of a form layout changing, or a new form
superseding an old one. (Form updates are often triggered by a
change in legislation or regulations).
90
Change support email address
Currently all error reports are sent directly to the default email
address - legal.helpdesk@advancedcomputersoftware.com. As an
Administrator you can now change this to point at your own internal
address, so that error reports are sent directly to your own support
team.
The main benefit of doing this will be for larger practices, who
would prefer their own support team to review and deal with any
issues internally, before contacting Laserform.
1. Select Admin: Change Support Email Address. This launches

the Change Support Email Address form.
2. Change the default email address by entering your own email

address and clicking OK.
To reset the address back to the default, click the Reset button.
91
Contact information
At Advanced Legal we strive to build intuitive products, but we also
know that from time to time you may need a little extra help.
That's why we offer useful support resources that you can dip in
and out of when you need it (like this online Help!). However, if you
need help and support beyond the information provided here, the
following are also available:
• Visit the Support Portal
• Make a general enquiry on 03300 602102
• Email the support desk at

legal.helpdesk@advancedcomputersoftware.com
• Contact us via the Advanced Legal website
• View the Legal Forms website
• Become a member of the Advanced Legal User Group (ALUG)
Advanced Legal provides telephone support between 8.30 a.m. and

6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding English Bank Holidays).
A team of trained professionals is available to help with any

problems you may encounter while using this product, subject to
the standard maintenance agreement.
In addition, as an Advanced Legal customer you are entitled to free

upgrades during office hours. If you'd like to upgrade or you need
further assistance, please call 03300 602102 between 8:30AM–
6:00PM (Monday to Friday).
93
Documentation feedback
We also aim to produce high quality documentation, but we

encourage you to tell us what you think. Feel free to send the team
your comments or if you spot a mistake let us know and we'll fix it
right away. Email techauthors@advanced-legal.com.
94
CHAPTER CONTACT INFORMATION
Technical support
At Advanced Legal we strive to build intuitive products, but we also
know that from time to time you may need a little extra help.
That's why we offer useful support resources that you can dip in
and out of when you need it (like this online Help!). However, if you
need help and support beyond the information provided here, the
following are also available:
• Visit the Support Portal
• Make a general enquiry on 03300 602102
• Email the support desk at

legal.helpdesk@advancedcomputersoftware.com
• Contact us via the Advanced Legal website
• View the Legal Forms website
• Become a member of the Advanced Legal User Group (ALUG)
Advanced Legal provides telephone support between 8.30 a.m. and

6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding English Bank Holidays).
A team of trained professionals is available to help with any

problems you may encounter while using this product, subject to
the standard maintenance agreement.
In addition, as an Advanced Legal customer you are entitled to free

upgrades during office hours. If you'd like to upgrade or you need
further assistance, please call 03300 602102 between 8:30AM–
6:00PM (Monday to Friday).
95
Emailing technical support from

within Laserform
This facility allows problems to be reported to the Support Team
quickly and simply, and is automatically generated. As well as
prompting for contact details and a problem summary, the email
also automatically attaches an Error Log and a Technical
Information document which the Support Team can use to swiftly
diagnose problems.
When this option is selected Laserform opens a new mail message

in the user’s default email package provided it is MAPI-compliant -
e.g. Microsoft Outlook - and control is switched to this application
window. Once the Summary and Contact information have been
filled in the email will be sent directly to the Support Team so it can
be progressed.
Attachments
• Error Log
This log file, located in the Laserform Program folder (e.g.

C:\Program Files\Laserform\Laserform\), automatically records
errors that are produced by Laserform. A copy of this file is
attached to the email but the original remains where it is
• Technical Information
This file is created whenever the email technical support option

is selected and it takes a snapshot of your system, recording
critical information for diagnosing the problem:
o Operating System
o Laserform Version details
o Application Paths
o Document Management Settings
o Printer details
o Word Version
96
CHAPTER CONTACT INFORMATION
NOTE A copy of the Technical Information file can be created in the

main Laserform folder without sending it to email by selecting F10
when in the Help, "About Laserform" Menu.
Accounts team
The Laserform Accounts team is available between 9.00 a.m. and
5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) to answer all
your account-related queries.
Tel: 0844 815 5563
Email: alscreditcontrol@advancedcomputersoftware.com
The Laserform Information Service

(LIS)
The LIS bulletin contains information on when forms are updated
and new forms are available.
We recommend that at least two people within Practices subscribe

to receive these bulletins.
To add yourself to the e-mailing list, email to

laserform@advancedcomputersoftware.com.
Please include your name, the practice name and your telephone
number, and state your preference for html or PDF.
97
Terms of use
Advanced Legal is satisfied that the information contained in this
document is correct at the time of production. Advanced Legal does
not accept responsibility for any loss of profit, loss of data or any
indirect, special or consequential damages resulting from its use. As
the software changes continuously, it is important that you always
check the current position with Advanced Legal.
All information, text, images and layout are the exclusive property
of Advanced Legal and you are only permitted to print, copy,
download or temporarily store extracts from this document with
prior permission. Any attempt to damage this document or act in
contravention of these Terms and Conditions may lead to legal
redress.
Advanced Legal is a trading name of Advanced Legal Solutions

Limited which is part of Advanced Computer Software Group
Limited. Registered in England under number 01738381 at:
Munro House
Portsmouth Road
Cobham
Surrey
KT11 1TF
© Advanced Legal Solutions Limited, Jan 2016. All rights reserved.
99
Index
A B
Accessing the Admin Menu 63 Blank Pages 34

Accounts Team 97 Bundle forms 42
Add C
blank pages 34
Clauses in forms 28 Calculations
Clients to a form 26 Lock data 30
Court to a form 25 On forms 30
Custom Form Templates 49 Overriding 30
Forms Bundle 42 Unlock data 30
Forms of Execution 27 Change
Information on a Form 24 Clauses in forms 28
Legal Numbering 34 Clients on a form 26
Practice Details 6, 73 Court on a form 25
practice/presenter details 25 Custom Templates 50
pre-determined text in forms Dictionary 13
28 Forms Bundle 42
Presenter details 6, 73 Forms of Execution 27
Screen Notes 38 Indents 35
Solicitor details 72 Legal Numbering 34
Solicitor on a form 26 Line spacing 35
Strikeout 38 Paragraph Properties 35
Text Box 32 Practice Details 6, 73
Admin practice/presenter details 25
Forms Report 71 Presenter details 6, 73
Organiser 72 Screen Notes 38
Admin Menu 63 Solicitor details 72
Administration Toolkit 70 Solicitor on a form 26
Administrator 63 Strikeout 38
Append 27 Text alignment 35
Automatic form updates 63 User options 13
Autotext 28 Change Support Email Address 91
County Courts 25
101
Editing the Laserform Document Management System

Database 57 Integration 4
High Courts 25 E
LFM Database 60
Select on a form 25 Edit
selecting on a form 26 Clauses in forms 28
Clauses Clients on a form 26
Add 9 Court on a form 25
Define scope 9 Custom Templates 50
Delete 9 Dictionary 13
Find 9 Forms Bundle 42
Inserting into forms 28 Forms of Execution 27
Rename 9 Indents 35
Configure forms explorer 76 LaserformDatabase 57
Create Legal Numbering 34
Clauses 9 Line spacing 35
Forms Bundle 42 Paragraph Properties 35
Information on a Form 24 Practice Details 6, 73
Practice Details 6, 73 practice/presenter details 25
Presenter details 6, 73 Presenter details 6, 73
Screen Notes 38 Screen Notes 38
Custom Form Templates 49 Solicitor details 72
Custom Templates Solicitor on a form 26
Update 50 Spelling 40
Customisaton 3 Strikeout 38
Customising the Forms Explorer Text alignment 35
Laserform 60 User options 13
overview 57 Email Technical Support 96
practice 60 sending forms 54
D Enable Form Database Retrieval 5
Enter
Default Text Selection 28 Information on a Form 24
Define scope of clauses 9 Practice/presenter details 25
Delete Execution (forms of) 27
Clauses 9 Existing forms
Forms Bundle 42 Open 21
Practice Details 6, 73 Expandable forms 51, 52
Screen Notes 38 F
Solicitor details 72
Dictionaries 13 Faxing a Form 55
Dictionary 40 Field Colours 31
Disable Laserform Databases 5 automatic 63
102
CHAPTER
Forms Library Online Verifier Expandable forms 51

68 Explorer 19
File paths 3, 13 faxing 55
Find text in form 41 Field Colours 31
Fonts 13 Find text 41
Footer text 6, 73 Forms of Execution 27
Form bundle 42 Forms Report 71
Forms Bundle Indents 35
Create 42 Inserting blank pages 34
Delete a form 42 Installing for the first time 5
Open 42 Legal Numbering 34
Print 42 Line spacing 35
Save 42 Make e-Submission 97
Separating a form from a Online Forms Verifier 68
bundle 42 open 21
Switching between forms 42 Optional pages 27
Forms Explorer Optional text selection 28
Configuration 76 overriding calculations 30
Retaining Customisation 77 Paragraph Properties 35
Forms of Execution 27 PDF Email 54
automatic updates 63 PDF Proof Document 54
Blank pages 34 Practice/Presenter details
Bundle 42 adding 25
calculations 13, 30 pre-determined text 28
Preview 19
lock data 30 Print 52
Saving 41
Saving a forms bundle 42
unlock data 30
Screen Notes 38
Search 19, 41
Clauses 28
Server install 5
Spelling 13, 40
Autotext 28 Standalone install 5
Status Toolbar 48
Court 25 Strikeout 38
Create shortcut 13 Templates
Custom Form Templates 49
Email 54
Custom Form 49
Enter information 24
Expandability 35
Text alignment 35
Expandable 52
Text Boxes 32
103
Text Search 41 Lock data 30

Types 19 Logos 6, 73
Update notifications 44 LPD form file
Updating Custom Templates 50 open 22
XFD Email 54 LPW form file
I open 22
M
Indents 35
Insert Maintaining Practice Details 6, 73
blank pages 34 Footer text 6, 73
Form References 21 Logo 6, 73
practice/presenter details 25 N
pre-determined text in forms
28 New
strikeout 38 blank pages 34
text boxes 32 Clauses 9
Installing PDF995 89 Clauses in forms 28
K Clients ton a form 26
Court on a form 25
Keyboard Shortcuts 45 Custom Form Templates 49
County Courts 57 Forms Bundle 42
District Land Registry 57 Forms of Execution 27
editing 57 Practice Details 6, 73
Editing the Laserform Presenter details 6, 73
Database 57 Screen Notes 38
High Courts 57 Solicitor details 72
Land Registry 57 Solicitor on a form 26
Land Registry Executions 57 Notifications 44
Laserform Database 57 O
L
Obsolete Forms
Laserform database open 22
disabling 5 ODMA Compliant Document
editing 57 Management System 4
LDD form file Online Forms Verifier 68
open 22 Open
Legacy forms Custom Templates 50
open 22 Existing forms 21
Legal Numbering 34 forms 21
Lform 19 Forms Bundle 42
Lform Expandability 35 Legacy or obsolete forms 22
Line spacing 35 Saved LDD form file 22
104
CHAPTER
Saved XFD/ LPD form file 22 S

Saved XFT form file 22
Optional pages 27 Save
Optional text selection 28 Forms Bundle 42
Organiser 72 Saving a Form 41
Overriding Calculations 30 Screen Notes 38
P Search
Form 41
Paragraph Properties 35 forms 19
PDF Proof Document 54 Send To Function 54
Practice Database 60 Clauses into forms 28
inserting 25 Client 26
maintaining 6, 73 Court on a form 25
Pre-determined text 28 Solicitor for a form 26
Preview forms 19 Separating a form from a bundle
Print 42
Form 52 Server install forms 5
Forms Bundle 42 Setting Options 13
PDF Proof Document 54 importing details 72
Printing 13 Maintaining Solicitors' Details
Proof document 54 72
R Other parties' solicitor on a
form 26
Registry Settings 79 selecting on a form 26
forms installed 71 Setup Wizard 3
Remove Shortcut 13
Clauses 9 Spell check options 13
Clauses in forms 28 Standalone install forms 5
Clients from a form 26 Status Toolbar 48
Court from a form 25 Strikethrough 13
Forms Bundle 42 Subscription Services 97
Practice Details 6, 73 accounts team 97
practice/presenter details 25 Email Technical Support 96
Presenter details 6, 73 Subscription Services 97
Screen Notes 38 Technical 95
Solicitor details 72 Switching between forms in a
Solicitor on a form 26 forms bundle 42
Strikeout 38 System Administrator 63
Retaining Customisation 77 System Configuration Wizard 3
Retrieval 5
105
T Update notifications 44
Updating Custom Templates 50
Templates User options 13
Custom Form 49 W
Text
find in form 41 Wintertree Software 40
Text alignment 35 Word Expandable forms 51
Text Boxes 32 Wspell ActiveX Spellchecker 40
Types of form 19 X
U
XFT form file 22
Unlock data 30
106
107

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Laserform Help Guide version 9.7.

Advanced Legal is satisfied that the information contained in this

Advanced Legal is a trading name of Advanced Legal Solutions Limited

© Advanced Legal Solutions Limited, Jan 2016. All rights reserved.

Setting up Laserform ............................................... 3

Using Laserform .................................................... 19

Administrator guide .............................................. 63

Technical information ............................................ 79

Contact information .............................................. 93

Terms of use ......................................................... 99

Index .................................................................. 101

Welcome to Laserform (9.7.3)

Laserform 9.7.3 introduces enhanced functionality and many new

• Expandability, including the ability to add additional rows into tables

The Laserform Configuration Wizard

1. Select Admin: Setup Wizard... from the main menu. Click

2. Choose the Document Management System Integration. Click Next.

3. Select the File Paths. Press Next to continue.

4. Choose if you want to Enable Laserform Database Retrieval. Click

5. Click OK to re-start Laserform with the new configuration.

Lforms LForms path (Lforms Location of the combined layout and

Laserform Custom Templates Location of saved custom form

Laserform Data Files path Location of saved form files.

The Laserform Form Group Location of the Forms Explorer.

Logos (Images Folder Location of practice logos.

Form Help Files: Location of the form help files.

Auto-FLOV Report Files Location of reports on the forms that

Document management system integration

In the second stage of the System Configuration Wizard, you can

If you have no Document Management System (DMS) or you do not

Otherwise select ODMA Compliant Document Management

NOTE Before you can use Laserform with your Document

Enable Laserform database retrieval

The System Configuration Wizard gives you the option to disable

Ticking Enable Form Database Retrieval allows the details of

Installing forms for the first time

If you want to install from CD or network location, select that

If this is a standalone install, you will need to do this on each

2. Select the location of the forms to be installed. This will either be

3. All forms included will be automatically download to the appropriate

Installing forms on a Server installation differs in two distinct ways

• Forms cannot be installed directly via the ‘Server Installation’

2. Select the location of the forms to be installed. This will either be

3. All forms included will be automatically download to the appropriate

Maintaining practice details

NOTE This function is only available to the system administrator.

Information about your own practice is stored in the Practice

information is required. Multiple sets of practice information can be

Laserform allows you to add, edit and delete practices.

TIP A video showing use of this feature is available to view at

Note: When editing Practice details, to start a new line in a multiple-line

Practice Footer Text

The image must be a bitmap (.bmp) file. An image size of around

CAUTION Deleting a practice will remove all information for that

4. Click Yes to delete.

NOTE This function is only available to the system administrator.

Clauses are segments of formatted text that can be inserted into

• Add clauses directly from a form

• Define the scope of the clause

TIP A video showing use of this feature is available to view at

Laserform provides a number of pre-configured and assigned Land

3. Enter the text of the clause, and format it appropriately.

TIP you can format text in a different application, such as

6. You can now Define a Clause’s Scope.