(In Beta) Editing a contract using Word (online or desktop)

 

Table of contents:

• Turn it on
• Link Microsoft and ContractSafe accounts
• Opening a contract in Word
• Check-out/check-in

Turn it on

There are two steps to take when enabling Word. The first is to turn it on. 

Go to Settings > Contract & Workflow Options > Contract Editing

Toggle on Word Editing. If you'd like Standard users to edit contracts, you can check the box. Otherwise, it is left off for default. 

Next, we'll link up your Microsoft Word account with ContractSafe

Link Microsoft and ContractSafe accounts

Go to Personal Settings > My Settings > Link Microsoft Account

 

Link your Microsoft account to ContractSafe through the Microsoft login workflow. Once done, you will be redirected back into ContractSafe and your Microsoft account will be linked to allow you to edit contracts.

Opening a contract in Word

On the contract page, you'll find a new icon that gives you 2 Word options to edit in Desktop or Online. Both offer the same features and experience. 

 

In Word Online and Desktop, you may have to click on the ContractSafe add-in to open up the ContractSafe window. If you do not see the add-in, go to Add-ins > search ContractSafe > click Add.

Once the ContractSafe window is open, you'll find a few options:

• Update in ContractSafe: This will save any edits as the newest version in ContractSafe. Previous versions will still be available in the related documents section.
• Create New Contract: Use this to create a completely new record in ContractSafe.
• Unlock Without Saving: This won’t delete your changes in Word, but they won’t be saved back to ContractSafe. The document will become editable for others.

Update in ContractSafe

Once a contract has been updated, you'll see this confirmation.

If you make additional changes and try to update the contract, you'll be asked to go back to ContractSafe to check out the contract again. 

Create a new contract

If you want to make a new contract, you'll be asked to add a contract name. 

Unlock Without Saving

Discarding your edits opens up the contract in ContractSafe for other users to edit in ContractSafe. It will not clear out the changes you made in the Word file, it will just not commit those into ContractSafe. 

Once discarded, you'll see the following confirmation

Check-out/check-in

Once you select your edit option (online or desktop) in ContractSafe, other users will see this banner appear at the top of the contract. Until the contract is checked back in, they will be unable to make any edits to the contract.

 

• Non-admins will be able to request to takeover the contract, which will alert the user editing via email of the request and encourage them to check the contract back in.
• Admins will be able to takeover the contract, and the user editing will get an email letting them know the admin took over.
• If a contract is not checked back in within 4 hours, the user editing will get an automated email  as a reminder in case they forgot to commit their changes back into ContractSafe.

FAQs

1. Do I need a word license to use this feature?
   • Yes. You must have a license that allows you to edit in Word.
2. What versions of Word are supported and what should I do if I get a message saying my version is not supported?
   • We support both online (o365) and desktop editing for Office 2021 (and later) and  Microsoft 365 subscription build. If you receive an error saying This add-in will not run in your version of Office. Please upgrade either to perpetual Office 2021 (or later) or to a Microsoft 365 account, follow these troubleshooting steps:
     • Ensure WebView2 runtime is installed
       • WebView2 is generally installed by default with modern Office builds. If missing, it can be downloaded from Microsoft.
     • Run Office 2021 or Microsoft 365 subscription builds
       • These builds are fully supported and will host add-ins in WebView2.
     • Upgrade older Office installations
       • Office 2016/2019 perpetual builds will not run the add-in. Upgrade to Office 2021 or Microsoft 365.
     • macOS and Office on the Web
       • macOS uses WebKit (Safari-based) and supports ES6. Office on the web runs on the user’s browser, which must be modern (Edge/Chrome/Firefox/Safari).