Editing client documents during print preview

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Once you’ve completed data entry and are ready to preview the return, you can make changes to a client document prior to printing that document from within UltraTax CS. This option is available for documents such as transmittal letters, filing instructions, and invoices. When editing a client document during preview, UltraTax CS opens the document in Microsoft Word or WordPad, where you can make changes to the content of the document. After saving the document in Word or WordPad, UltraTax CS automatically refreshes the print preview to display your most recent changes, and will highlight the edited document's title in red text in the preview window's list of documents. 

Note: We recommend that you complete the data entry for a client's return before editing any client documents during print preview. Any amounts that are updated in the tax return will not be reflected in the edited version of a client document. If you preview a tax return containing data that was updated after a client document was edited, UltraTax CS displays a prompt to inform you that you may need to verify the accuracy of the edited document. If necessary, you can restore the edited document to its default condition and UltraTax CS will automatically update it with the current amounts during the next print preview.

To edit the text of a client document during print preview, complete the following steps. 

  1. With a client's return open in UltraTax CS, choose File > Preview or click the Print Preview Print Preview button button on the toolbar.
  2. Select the desired client document (such as the transmittal letter) from the document pages drop-down list in the toolbar or the list pane on the left side of the preview window. 
  3. When the applicable document is selected, UltraTax CS displays the Edit and Restore buttons in the toolbar of the preview window.

    Print preview edit buttons

    • To edit the selected document in Microsoft Word or WordPad, click the Edit button.

    • To return an edited document to its original state, click Restore and then select Default. To return an edited document to its original state and then open it in Word or WordPad, click Restore and then select Default and Edit. 

      Note: Depending on your version and settings in Microsoft Word, you may be prompted to confirm the file type of the document before it opens in Word. To do so, confirm that Rich Text Format (RTF) is selected in the Convert File dialog, then click OK. The client document will then open in Word for editing.

  4. In Microsoft Word or in WordPad, make the desired changes in the client document. You can edit text, make formatting changes, and insert images as necessary, though inserted images will display placeholders rather than the image itself. Do not edit variables (such as the {List of Returns} in a transmittal letter) outside of UltraTax CS; doing so can prevent the document from displaying the variable content correctly. 
  5. After making your changes, save the document and close Word or WordPad. UltraTax CS automatically refreshes the print preview to display the updated document with your edits included. The name of the edited document is displayed in red text in the list pane on the left side of the preview window.

    Print preview document names

Note: While you have a client document open for editing from the preview, UltraTax CS will remain locked until you close the document in Microsoft Word or WordPad.

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