> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nyumbazetu.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Documents and templates

> Generate documents from templates, manage files, and use the letter composer in Nyumba Zetu.

Nyumba Zetu provides several ways to create and manage documents: **template-based documents**, **letter composer**, **ad-hoc documents**, and **file storage**. This guide covers where to find them and how they’re used.

## Where to find documents and templates

| Surface              | Route              | Purpose                                        |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Documents**        | `/documents`       | Generated documents and uploaded files.        |
| **Templates**        | `/templates`       | The template library and generation wizard.    |
| **Letter composer**  | `/letter`          | Formal letters with letterhead and signatures. |
| **Ad-hoc documents** | `/adhoc-documents` | Quick branded one-off documents.               |

Documents can also be attached directly to records — invoices, payments, leases, residents, service
requests, assets, legal matters and more. The upload control is the same everywhere, so a file
attached from a task, a case or an invoice behaves identically and stays with that record.

## Template-based documents

1. Go to **Docs** or **Templates**.
2. Open a **template** (e.g. lease agreement, notice letter).
3. Use the **wizard** or form to fill in placeholders (tenant name, dates, amounts, etc.).
4. Generate the document. It’s saved under **Documents** and can be downloaded, printed, or sent.

<Tip>
  Templates are configured by your admin. If you don’t see the template you need, ask them to add it or check the template library.
</Tip>

## Letter composer

Use **Letter composer** to write formal letters (notices, renewals, demands) with your
organisation's letterhead. Add content, insert signatures if required, and export to PDF or send by
email.

Recipients can receive a **secure single-use link** to act on the letter:

| Link                  | Purpose                             |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| `/letter-sign/:token` | The recipient signs the document.   |
| `/letter-ack/:token`  | The recipient acknowledges receipt. |

Acknowledgement is what turns a letter from "we sent it" into "they received it" — which matters
for anything with legal weight, including [demand letters](/guides/collections/strategies) and
[TPS compliance notices](/guides/tps/compliance-and-ownership).

## Ad-hoc documents

**Ad-hoc documents** let you create one-off branded documents (e.g. invoice, quotation, receipt) without going through the full invoice or template flow. Choose the document type, fill in the details, and generate a PDF.

## Document templates versus message templates

Two different template systems, for two different things:

|              | Document templates                       | [Message templates](/guides/message-templates)               |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Produces** | A document (usually a PDF)               | An SMS, email, WhatsApp or push message                      |
| **Used by**  | Letters, agreements, notices, statements | Invoice delivery, reminders, broadcasts, collections ladders |
| **Where**    | Templates / Letter composer              | Communications → Templates                                   |

If you are trying to change the wording of a reminder a tenant receives, you want message
templates.

## Next steps

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Managing leases" icon="file-signature" href="/guides/managing-leases">
    Lease documents generated from templates.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Templates & broadcasts" icon="paper-plane" href="/guides/message-templates">
    The messaging side of templating.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Assessments" icon="clipboard-check" href="/guides/assessments">
    Versioned questionnaires, built on the same schema-form engine.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Settings" icon="sliders" href="/guides/settings">
    Where document options are configured.
  </Card>
</Columns>