A document class is a definition of a particular type of document, such as an order form or medical form. For each document class, you can specify:

• Index fields to use to retrieve the documents (optional)

• Attributes for the defined index fields (such as hidden, sticky, etc.)

• At least one form type (required)

Document classes provide a convenient mechanism for associating the same group of index fields to multiple form types. You can define a document class, and then add one or more form types to it. Then, you can associate a set of index fields to the document class. The same set of index fields is shared across all the forms types defined for the document class.

For example, consider this scenario: A sales department receives order forms from five different sources. Each order form is formatted differently, but all contain the same types of information (customer name, customer address, item number, total, etc.).

For this case, one document class called Catalog Orders can be defined. A different form type for each form can be added to the document class.

Then, a set of index fields can be associated with all form types in the document class.

You create new document classes with the Create Document Class window.

You edit document classes with the Document Class Properties window.