Why It Matters
Previously, editing a draft invoice meant sending it back to Ready to Bill (RTB) a time-consuming step that often disrupted the billing flow. The Draft Editor removes that bottleneck by letting you update time entries, fixed fees, and expenses directly within the draft invoice view. Whether you’re reviewing a single invoice or processing a batch, the experience is faster, more intuitive, and more flexible.
Key Capabilities
Edit Without Reverting: Make changes to draft invoices without sending them back to Ready to Bill.
Add Items On the Fly: Insert fixed fees, time entries, and expenses directly from the draft view.
Reassign Items: Change the matter on any item or assign time entries to fixed fees.
Flexible Organization: Move items between billable, non-billable, and fixed fee sections.
Bulk Actions: Select multiple items and update them all at once.
Auto-Advance Workflow: Automatically move to the next invoice after saving or approving.
Bulk Invoice Date Edits: Update invoice dates across draft, review, and approved stages.
How It Works
Accessing the Draft Editor
To begin editing, go to Billing > Draft/Review/Approve, then open an invoice. The new interface will appear, offering an upgraded experience. For creating drafts:
Navigate to "Ready to Bill":
Use the single lightning bolt icon next to a client/matter to create a draft for that matter.
Alternatively, select multiple clients or matters and click "Create Drafts" in the top-right corner to generate drafts for all selected.
Access the Draft Folder:
Locate the draft in the "Draft" folder, where you can open it for review and editing.
A Closer Look at the Interface
Each invoice includes sections for Services, Fixed Fees, and Expenses, each with dedicated Add and Update buttons.
Add Button: Lets you create new time entries, fixed fees, or expenses directly from the draft.
Update Button: Enables bulk changes like “Make Non-billable,” “Change Matter,” and more.
Section Controls: If a section isn’t already present on the invoice, you can add it manually.
Real-Time Updates: Changes appear instantly—no page refresh required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I still need to revert to RTB to make edits?
A: No. The Draft Editor supports most edits directly from the draft invoice view.
Q: How do I add a new expense?
A: In the Expenses section, click Add > Create a new expense, fill in the details, and it will automatically appear in the correct order.
Q: Can I assign multiple time entries to a fixed fee?
A: Yes. Select the entries, then click Update > Assign to fixed fee, and choose the appropriate fixed fee.
Q: What happens if I change the matter on a fixed fee?
A: All associated time entries will move to the new matter, and allocation details and attorneys will carry over as needed.
Q: Why are some Update options grayed out?
A: The Update menu is contextual. Options appear based on the type of items you’ve selected.
Q: What is Auto-Advance and how does it work?
A: When enabled, Auto-Advance automatically opens the next invoice after saving or approving the current one—ideal for high-volume workflows.
Q: Can I bulk update invoice dates?
A: Yes. You can update dates for multiple invoices in the draft, review, or approved stages via the bulk update functionality.
Q: How do I move time entries to another client or matter?
A: Check the box beside the entry you wish to move, then use the dropdown in the "Update" section to select "Move to different client/matter." For bulk tasks like making entries non-billable, follow the same workflow.
Q: Can I update time entries to be part of a Fixed Fee billing structure?
A: Yes. Ensure there is a Fixed Fee set up for the matter, then edit the time entries to associate them with this Fixed Fee.
Q: Is there a 'Clear' option like in the step-by-step editor?
A: The original step-by-step editor's 'clear' function is made available in more conveniently labeled options:
Use "Save for Later" to remove items from the invoice and return them to WIP
For billable time entries, use "Write-down to Zero" to set the billable amount to zero
Use “Mark as Billed” to permanently mark a time entry as billed and remove it from the billing workflow without deleting it.
These features allow you to effectively manage any entries you don't want to bill on the current invoice.