First Time Setup
After installation, Certum Draft guides you through initial setup. Here’s what each step involves.
Terms of Use
Section titled “Terms of Use”The first screen shows the Terms of Use. These cover:
- The software is provided as-is for testing purposes
- You’re responsible for verifying all generated documents
- Your data stays on your computer (no cloud storage)
Click Accept & Continue to proceed.
License Activation
Section titled “License Activation”You’ll need a license key to use Certum Draft.
- Enter the email address associated with your license
- Paste your license key in the field below
- Click Activate
Once activated, you’ll see a confirmation screen. Click Continue to proceed.
Document Engine Setup
Section titled “Document Engine Setup”Certum Draft uses a Python-based engine to generate documents. This sets up automatically.
What’s happening:
- Creating an isolated Python environment
- Installing document processing libraries
- Configuring the template engine
This takes 1-2 minutes. When complete, click Continue.
Quick Setup
Section titled “Quick Setup”The final step configures where Certum Draft stores your files.
Matters Folder
Section titled “Matters Folder”This is where all your client matter folders will be created.
Recommended: Use your firm’s existing matters folder, such as:
- A shared network drive
- A Dropbox or iCloud folder
- A local folder on your Mac
Click Choose Folder to select the location.
Templates Folder
Section titled “Templates Folder”This is where Certum Draft looks for document templates.
Your administrator will set up templates here. Each template type (Estates, Conveyancing, etc.) has its own subfolder.
Matter Numbering
Section titled “Matter Numbering”Choose how matter numbers are generated:
| Format | Example | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential | 000001, 000002, 000003 | Simple numbering |
| Year-Sequential | 2026-0001, 2026-0002 | Reset each year |
| Custom Prefix | ABC-000001 | Firm-specific codes |
Folder Naming
Section titled “Folder Naming”Choose how matter folders are named:
Default format: {number} - {client_name} - {matter_type}
Example: 013547 - SMITH John - Estate of Harold Smith
All Done!
Section titled “All Done!”Click Get Started to complete setup and open Certum Draft.
You’re now ready to: