Introduction to DraftMate for Contract Templates
Last updated: March 30, 2026
Welcome to DraftMate, SpotDraft's powerful tool for creating and managing contract templates. This article will introduce you to the core concepts of DraftMate, allowing you to get started with building your own professional and dynamic templates.
What is DraftMate?
DraftMate is a Microsoft Word plugin that seamlessly integrates with SpotDraft. Imagine creating a contract template that:
Automates repetitive tasks: Instead of manually typing the same information into every contract, you can use variables to pull in data from your SpotDraft workflows.
Adds logic and flexibility: Use conditional statements to show or hide parts of your template based on specific conditions.
Streamlines collaboration: Collaborate on templates with your team, making it easier to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Getting Started with DraftMate
Install the Plugin: The first step is to install DraftMate directly into your Microsoft Word application. You can do this by:
Searching for "DraftMate" in the Microsoft Word "Add-ins" store.
Clicking "Add" to install the plugin.
Connect to SpotDraft: Once DraftMate is installed, you'll be prompted to connect it to your SpotDraft account. Clicking the button to log in will open a new browser window where you can authenticate your SpotDraft account.
Accessing Workflows: After successful authentication, you'll be redirected back to your Microsoft Word document. Here you'll see a new DraftMate pane with a list of available workflows. These workflows represent pre-built templates that you can use to create your own customized documents.
Choosing a Workflow: Browse the list of workflows, which includes both published (ready-to-use) and unpublished templates. Select the workflow that best suits the type of contract template you'd like to create.
Uploading Your Template: Once you've created your contract template in Word using DraftMate, you'll need to upload it to SpotDraft to make it available for use. Templates in SpotDraft are managed through Template Workflows:
Navigate to Manage → Workflow Manager → Set Up New Workflow → Template Workflow
Name your workflow (e.g., "NDA Template") and optionally add a description
Select or create the linked contract type
Click Start Setup
Upload your prepared .docx file (drag-and-drop or click "+ Upload .docx")
Configure parties and questionnaire as needed
Publish the workflow to make your template available
To create contracts from your template, go to New → Template Contracts
Note: Workflow Manager is only available on desktop. If you're using SpotDraft on mobile, please switch to desktop to upload and manage templates.
Key DraftMate Features
Now that you've chosen a workflow, let's explore some of DraftMate's key features:
Variables: Variables allow you to insert data from your SpotDraft workflows directly into your template. This could include things like names, addresses, dates, or other relevant information.
Conditional Statements: Conditional statements let you control the logic of your template. For example, you can specify that a certain clause should only appear if a particular checkbox is selected in your workflow.
Signature Blocks: DraftMate makes it easy to include signature blocks in your contracts. Simply select the fields you would like to insert and DraftMate will insert a signature block for you.
Dynamic Tables: Dynamic tables give you the flexibility to add tables that can automatically adjust the number of rows based on the data you input.
Next Steps:
This article has provided a basic introduction to DraftMate. To get hands-on and create your first contract template, we recommend exploring the additional resources below:
Additional Resources
DraftMate Help Center: Creating Contract Templates with Draftmate
SpotDraft Support: If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact SpotDraft support.
Let us know if you have any further questions. Good luck creating your contract templates with DraftMate!