This module will explain how to insert, modify and delete provisions in your document, with some exercises to allow you to practice this and find out about some useful shortcuts built into the Editor to help make drafting easier.
📘 Introduction
[Basic introduction video]
https://lawmaker.atlassian.net/wiki/x/gIIK
📚 Exercises
✏️ Insert basic provisions
Key learning points
Placeholders are the grey highlighted elements e.g. “Heading” or “Text” that you type into.
Em-dashes can be inserted by the keyboard shortcut of typing dash twice “--” which will auto-convert them into an em-dash “—”
Starting point
Instructions
To create a section containing some definitions.
Place your cursor in the empty body placeholder element
Click Enter on your keyboard to view the insert menu
Click Enter again to insert the default element at the top of the insert menu—
For Bills, this will be a Section.
When you insert a Section, Lawmaker will automatically include a subsection by default
Type Interpretation into the Heading placeholder
Use tab on your keyboard or click using the mouse to move the cursor into the ‘Text’ placeholder for the subsection and type In this Act—
To insert the definitions, click Enter and use the arrow keys on your keyboard or click using the mouse to select Definition from the insert menu, clicking Enter to insert it—
A definition will be inserted, made up of 2 placeholders—
a “Defined term” placeholder within quote marks surrounding it; and
a ‘Text’ placeholder for the meaning.
Type “the Department” means the Department for Communities; into the first definition
Insert the second definition by clicking Enter again and type “the emergency period” has the meaning given by section 1(2).
Expected outcome
Video recording
[Insert link to video recording completing this exercise]
✏️ Insert a provision at the start
Key learning points
Where provisions are inserted: Lawmaker will insert your chosen provision in the next valid position after your cursor location. This is useful to know when you want to add a provision at the start of a series of provisions.
Breadcrumb is at the bottom of the Editor view and shows you exactly where you cursor is placed in the Editor. If you have your cursor in the heading of the section for example, the breadcrumb will read— Bill > body > Section > Heading
Starting point
Instructions
Place your cursor in the section num “1.”
The breadcrumb will read Bill > body > Section > Num
Use your right arrow key to move your cursor until the breadcrumb changes to Bill > body > Section
Click Enter to view the insert menu
Select Subsection (1) and click Enter again to insert
The subsection will be inserted before your existing subsection
Expected outcome
Video recording
[Insert link to video recording completing this exercise]
✏️ Delete a provision using the breadcrumb
Starting point
Instructions
Remove the newly inserted subsection by placing your cursor in the empty Text placeholder
The breadcrumb should say Bill > body > Section > Subsection > Content > Text
Use your mouse to select Subsection from the breadcrumb
The whole subsection (num and text) will be highlighted
Delete it using backspace or Delete on your keyboard or right-click with your cursor on the Subsection breadcrumb and select Delete Element
The subsection will be safely deleted
To undo this deletion, select the Undo button
in the upper tool bar or use the keyboard short cut CTRL + ZTo redo the deletion, select the Redo button
in the upper tool bar or use the keyboard short cut CTRL + Y
Expected outcome
Video recording
[Insert link to video recording completing this exercise]
✏️ Converting a subsection to section content
Key learning points
Converting subsection into section content using the promote feature.
Starting point
Instructions
Place your cursor in the remaining subsection
Promote it to become section content using any of the following options—
Right-click and select Promote element,
Select Tools > Promote element,
Keyboard shortcut ALT+[
The subsection will turn into an unnumbered section content element.
Expected outcome
Video recording
[Insert link to video recording completing this exercise]
✏️ Converting section content to a subsection
Key learning points
Auto-converting section content into a subsection when a second subsection is inserted.
Starting point
Instructions
Place your cursor anywhere in the last definition and click Enter to view the insert menu
Use the down arrow key on your keyboard or click using the mouse to select Subsection from the insert menu, clicking Enter to insert it—
A subsection is inserted after your cursor location (after the last definition)
The section content will auto-convert to subsection (1)
Type in the content of the second subsection.
Expected outcome
Video recording
[Insert link to video recording completing this exercise]