Author Online FAQs
Author Online is Contract Express's new template authoring tool that combines intuitive workflows with powerful AI features to make template creation easier and faster than ever before. This reimagined approach to template authoring keeps simple automation tasks straightforward while gradually introducing more advanced options as needed.
New features are added to Author Online every month to achieve feature parity with Author Desktop and provide more enhanced support for template authors. In the short-term, experienced authors may prefer to use Author Desktop for more complex authoring scenarios not yet available in Author Online, but Author Online is ready to serve as the primary authoring solution for anyone newer to template automation.
This article answers frequently asked questions about Author Online to help you get started and understand how it differs from Author Desktop.
Check out the sections below to quickly access important information and get familiar with Author Online.
- Author Online vs Author Desktop
- Author Online Feature Roadmap
- Author Online and AI
- Author Online Access Requirements
- Getting started with Author Online
Author Online vs Author Desktop
How do Author Online templates differ from Author Desktop templates?
Author Online uses content controls to add automation instructions (fields and spans) to Word documents. In contrast, Author Desktop uses character-based automation, where fields and spans are identified by brackets typed directly into the document.
Content controls provide a more structured and reliable way to embed automation instructions in Word documents, reducing the risk of accidental edits or broken fields that can occur with character-based brackets. This approach offers better overview of automated elements and more robust parsing to ensure consistent add-in performance.
Are the two tools compatible?
Yes. Despite the different markup methods, the underlying logic remains the same. Both tools use identical expressions, template authoring principles, questionnaires, and dictionary objects. Features such as lookup tables, warnings, and usage check work the same way in both versions. Any author familiar with Author Desktop will easily adopt Author Online and recognise the same foundational logic.
Can an author use both add-ins?
Yes, authors can easily switch between the two tools. However, each template can only use one type of markup at a time, either content controls or brackets. Templates can be instantly converted between the two formats using the template converters available in each add-in.
- To convert a template to content controls (Author Online): Use the "Convert template" option in the kebab menu for the currently open Word file.
- To convert a template to character-based markup (Author Desktop): Save the file, then use the "Convert template" option under Tools in Author Desktop.
In both cases, the converted template will open as a new file, preserving your original.
Is Author Desktop being sunset?
No, Author Desktop is not being sunset. Contract Express customers can continue using Author Desktop without any restrictions, and it remains fully supported with ongoing improvements throughout 2026. We expect both tools to be used in parallel, allowing you to choose the best tool for each situation. Author Desktop will continue to be the preferred choice for complex authoring scenarios as it offers some capabilities that won't be immediately available in Author Online.
As Author Online's feature set expands and reaches full parity, we will encourage more authors to consider it as their primary tool for new projects. At that point, we'll prioritise Author Online for new features and enhancements, while gradually reducing new investment in Author Desktop.
Author Online Feature Roadmap
What features are not yet available in Author Online?
Author Online is rapidly approaching core-feature parity with Author Desktop. To help you understand what's available now and what's coming, we've organised the roadmap into two key areas:
Template logic capabilities
(what automation you can build) and Authoring tools
(features that make building automation more convenient). Template Logic Parity - What Automation Can Be Built
Author Online already supports nearly all automation logic available in Author Desktop. The final core logic features arriving in Q1 2026 include:
- Template versioning and description
- Ability to attach and remove external dictionaries
- Support for entity variables
Authoring Tools - Features Coming to Author Online
While you can achieve the same automation outcomes, Author Desktop currently offers additional tools that streamline authoring workflows. These convenience features, along with new UI-assisted functionality, are being added to Author Online over the coming months:
Feature Category | Features | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
Enhanced Authoring Tools |
| 2026 |
New UI-Assisted Features |
| 2026 |
Advanced Analysis & Customisation Tools |
| 2027 |
If you need a feature not listed here or want to discuss timing, please contact our support team at support@contractexpress.com. Your feedback helps us prioritise development.
note
The roadmap is subject to change and may be updated at any time.
Will all tools and functionality be replicated in Author Online?
Author Online is designed to streamline template authoring by making best practices more intuitive and accessible. As part of this reimagined approach, we've optimised certain areas of functionality to reduce complexity while maintaining full automation capabilities.
Some features that are streamlined or evolved in Author Online:
- Instructions: We've standardised on guidance for all instructional content in the questionnaire, eliminating the need to choose between guidance and preamble.
- External Dictionaries: Available exclusively as server-based dictionaries for improved reliability and collaboration (file-based dictionaries will not be supported).
- Template creation tools: Features like Markup Wizard are being replaced by more sophisticated AI-powered authoring capabilities that offer greater intelligence and efficiency.
We're committed to listening to our customers as we make these decisions. If there's strong demand for specific functionality, we can revisit re-introducing certain options as customisable Author settings at a later stage.
If you have questions or concerns about any functionality currently unavailable in Author Online, please contact us at support@contractexpress.com.
Author Online and AI
What AI features are available in Author Online?
Author Online supports all Contract Express template authoring AI features, giving you access to the same intelligent automation capabilities available in Author Desktop. Additionally, Author Online offers the exclusive
auto-setup of questionnaire
feature, which uses AI to automatically organise and structure your template questions, a capability unique to Author Online.As we continue developing new AI features, some may initially launch in Author Desktop before being added to Author Online in subsequent releases. This ensures thorough testing while we work toward feature parity across both tools.
For a comprehensive overview of all AI features available in Contract Express, visit our AI Features article.
Can Author Online be used without Advanced AI feature enablement?
Yes, absolutely. Author Online's core functionality, including its user-friendly interface, guided workflows, content control-based markup, and all standard template authoring capabilities, is available regardless of whether Advanced AI features are enabled on your account.
Is Author Online available to on-premises customers?
Yes, Author Online is available to on-premises customers. To use Author Online, users need to log in with their Contract Express credentials. As long as your on-premises instance configuration supports the login requirements, Author Online will be accessible.
note
AI features are not available for on-premises deployments, as these features require Cloud infrastructure.
Author Online Access Requirements
Is there an additional cost for using Author Online?
No, Author Online is included at no additional cost with your Contract Express or HighQ DocAuto subscription. You simply need valid Contract Express login credentials with an author or admin role to start using it.
Can Author Online be used on Macs and Word Online?
Yes, Author Online is fully compatible with both Mac and Word Online, giving you flexibility to author templates across different platforms.
Note that in Word Online some features may behave slightly differently due to platform limitations in Word Online's environment compared to Word Desktop.
What are the minimum version requirements?
Author Online is an Office JS add-in that automatically runs on the most recent available version, so you don't need to manage updates manually. Minimum version of Contract Express instance for login into Author Online is 10.6.
note
Some Author Online features rely on API calls to the Contract Express instance you log into. If your organisation's Contract Express instance is running an older version, certain recently released Author Online features may not be available until your instance is updated.
Getting started with Author Online
Where to get Author Online?
Author Online is a Microsoft Office add-in that can be installed directly from the Microsoft Office Store.
To install from Office Store:
- Use this direct link to Author Online in the Microsoft Marketplace.
- Or search for "Thomson Reuters" in the Office Store and select "Contract Express Author" from the results.
If the Microsoft Office Store is not available in your organisation, your IT team can deploy Author Online as an admin-managed add-in. See our step-by-step guide Install Author Online when the office store is unavailable.
What help info is available?
We provide comprehensive resources to help you get started with Author Online:
- Introduction video: Watch our Author Online overview video for a quick walkthrough of key features.
- Help articles: Browse our complete Author Online documentation for detailed guidance on all features.
- AI features guide: Learn about available AI capabilities in our AI Features article.
What training is available?
We offer multiple training options to help you master Author Online:
- Self-paced online course: A comprehensive online training course is coming soon and will be available at no additional cost.
- Live training sessions: Our Professional Services team offers dedicated training tailored to your organisation's needs and specific use cases.
- Getting started resources: In the meantime, use our introduction video and help documentation to start learning immediately.
To inquire about dedicated training sessions or discuss your training needs, contact your client manager.
Need Help or Have Feedback?
We're here to help! If you have questions, feedback, or need assistance with Author Online, please reach out:
- For technical issues: Email support@contractexpress.com (include your Contract Express version number and issue description).
- To request features: Submit your ideas on the Knowledge Base.
- For training or implementation: Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM).