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The differences between smart files and legacy files
The differences between smart files and legacy files

Understanding the similarities and differences between legacy files and smart files

Updated over a week ago

With smart files, you can continue to use all the familiar HoneyBook features such as sending invoices, contracts, services, and questions. However, smart files offer even more possibilities for customization and enhanced capabilities.

Your legacy file templates are still available in your account and have not been deleted. You can locate these templates in the Legacy Files tab of your Templates section and continue to send them to your clients.


Differences in key features

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Create standalone invoices, contracts, proposals, questionnaires, and brochures

Yes

Yes

Create a document that includes the HoneyBook Scheduler

No

Yes

Combine any number of client actions or content elements within one document

No

Yes

Create a reusable, time-saving template of any document

Yes

Yes

Create documents, send documents, and view client actions via mobile app

Yes

Yes

Edit and resend documents via mobile app

Yes

Yes


Differences in invoices

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Create and send invoices

Yes

Yes

View notifications: file statuses, payment status updates, and payment reminders

Yes

Yes

Dynamically insert selected services into an invoice within one document

No

Yes

Set up custom payment schedules

Yes

Yes

Add custom purchase order and invoice numbers

No

Yes

Edit field visibility for individual items or packages

No

Yes

Edit a client's view of an invoice

No

Yes

Add custom labels for additional taxes, service changes, etc.

No

Yes

Customize the document title, design, fonts, colors, background, and more

No

Yes

Expire invoices at any time

Yes

Yes

Make edits and resend to the clients at any point in the process

Yes

Yes

Set a custom expiration notice to create urgency with the client

No

Yes

Create monthly recurring payment schedules

Yes

Yes

Create custom recurring payment schedules (daily, weekly, biweekly, annually, custom)

No

Yes

Pause, edit, and mark recurring payments as paid

No

Yes

Pair an invoice with any number of client actions or additional content elements, all within one document

No

Yes


Differences in contracts

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Create and send a contract

Yes

Yes

View notifications: file status, signature updates, reminders

Yes

Yes

Dynamically insert selected services into a contract from the same document

No

Yes

Add smart files to connect the contract to project details

Yes

Yes

Dynamically pull responses to smart file questions into a contract smart field

No

Yes

Customize the document title, design, fonts, colors, background, etc.

No

Yes

Toggle "signature required" on or off for a team member or client

No

Yes

Add more than one contract to sign within one document

No

Yes

Make edits and resend to the client at any point in the process

Yes

Yes

Expire the contract at any time

Yes

Yes

Set custom expiration notices to create urgency with the client

No

Yes

Pair a contract with any number of client actions or additional content elements, all within one document

No

Yes


Differences in proposals

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Create and send a proposal (a contract and invoice combined)

Yes

Yes

Rearrange the order of client actions (reviewing the invoice, signing, paying)

No

Yes

Expire the proposal at any time

Yes

Yes

Make edits and resend to the client at any point in the process

Yes

Yes

Set a custom expiration notice to create urgency with the client

No

Yes

Pair a proposal with any number of client actions or additional content elements, all within one document

No

Yes


Differences in questionnaires

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Create and send a questionnaire

Yes

Yes

Choose from six difference question types: short text, long text, drop-down menu, single choice, multiple choice, and date picker

Yes

Yes

View and print all client responses into one easy to read response summary

No

Yes

Customize the document title, design, fonts, colors, background, etc.

No

Yes

Expire the questionnaire at any time

Yes

Yes

Set questions as required

Yes

Yes

Link a question's response to project detail fields

Yes

Yes

Link a question's response to a contract's smart files within the same document

No

Yes

Make edits and resend to the client at any point in the process

Yes

Yes

Set a custom expiration notice to create urgency with the client

No

Yes

Pair a questionnaire with any number of client actions or additional content elements, all within one document

No

Yes


Differences in brochures

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Create and send a document with selectable services

Yes

Yes

Have client selections generate a draft proposal (combining an invoice and contract)

Yes

Yes

Allow for selecting services and paying at the same time by inserting the selected services into the invoice

No

Yes

Allow for selecting services and signing at the same time by inserting the selected services into the contract

No

Yes

Choose how selected services will appear in corresponding invoices (hiding the image, changing the quantity, etc.)

No

Yes

Manage the look of services, with options to hide images or descriptors

No

Yes

Make edits and resend the document to clients at any point in the process

No

Yes

Customize the button CTA to submit the document

No

Yes

Customize column layouts

No

Yes

Expire the document at any time

Yes

Yes

Set a custom expiration notice to create urgency with the client

No

Yes

Pair a brochure with any number of client actions or additional content elements, all within one document

No

Yes


Differences in timelines

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Create and send a timeline

Yes

No


Differences in automations

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Send a client document with questions and service selections with an automation step

Yes

Yes

Send a client document with an invoice using an automation

No

Yes

Send a client document with a contract using an automation

No

Yes

Send a client document with the Scheduler using an automation

No

Yes


Differences in building and managing documents

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Easily pull specific pages of files into other templates or files

No

Yes

Preview a desktop view of the document before sharing it with the client

Yes

Yes

Preview a mobile view of the document before sharing it with the client

No

Yes

Send a test document to yourself before sharing it with the client

No

Yes

View a complete summary of the document (status, responses, services selected, payments, signatures, etc.)

No

Yes


Differences in design options

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Add images and text

Yes

Yes

Add full-width background images

No

Yes

Customize button CTAs on each page of the document

No

Yes

Create custom design layouts

No

Yes

Add multi-column layouts in any document

No

Yes

Customize the document's theme (fonts, colors)

No

Yes

Pull company info from your settings into the document using a company info area (like the header or footer)

No

Yes

Upload and use custom fonts

No

Yes

Embed videos

No

Yes

Copy and paste entire sections of the document

No

Yes

Undo actions when creating the document with an undo button

No

Yes


Differences in the client experience

Key features

Legacy files

Smart files

Redirect clients to a URL after submitting the document

No

Yes

Link to the scheduler using hyperlinked text in the document

Yes

Yes

Share the document via email through the project workspace

Yes

Yes

Share the document via a direction link (within an email, DM, etc.) with any project participants

No

Yes

Allow for additional legal protection for the booking experience through a security access code setting

No

Yes

Reduce the back and forth: the client can complete multiple actions all in one document (for example, by selecting services, paying, and signing all at once)

No

Yes

Still have questions? Feel free to send us a message by clicking the Question Mark icon on any HoneyBook page. Our team is always happy to help!

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