LitArbi for Word (beta)

LitArbi’s Insert Citation pane, docked in Word — on the Mac, on Windows, in Word on the web and on the iPad. Click exhibits into one citation, give each its page or paragraph, and insert it as a footnote or in the text: the full citation the first time a document cites an exhibit, the short one after, the exhibit number in bold, the link to the exhibit underneath.

Where the exhibits come from: LitArbi on the same computer (Mac or Windows) — then every citation reads exactly as LitArbi writes it, and an exhibit without a number gets its number on its first citation. Without LitArbi beside Word (the iPad, Word on the web): your firm’s LitArbi Server (version 1.8.1 or later) with your LitArbi account, or a bundle’s exhibit list (litarbi-bundle.json).

Two versions — so that every Word is covered

LitArbi cites in Word through one of two add-ins, depending on the Word you have. Both give Word the same LitArbi tab and write the same citations, so a brief can move from one to the other.

LitArbi for Word (this page) — for current Word: Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on Windows, Word for Mac 16.70 or later, Word on the web and Word for iPad.
The Word ribbon add-in — for every Word from Word 2019 and Word for Mac 16 on, older versions included. LitArbi installs it itself: LitArbi ▸ Settings ▸ Add-ins.

The two versions exist only for compatibility: Word 2019 and 2021, and Word for Mac before 16.70, lack what LitArbi for Word needs, and the ribbon add-in gives them the full LitArbi tab all the same.

Install

Word on the web, Windows or Mac: download manifest.xml, then in Word: Add-ins ▸ My Add-ins ▸ Upload My Add-in, and choose the file. Word gets a LitArbi tab.
The whole firm, including iPads: your Microsoft 365 administrator deploys the same manifest once (Microsoft 365 admin center ▸ Settings ▸ Integrated apps ▸ Upload custom apps).
LitArbi on this computer, once: LitArbi ▸ Settings ▸ Add-ins ▸ Connect with Word. macOS asks for your password once, to trust the local connection; from then on LitArbi for Word finds LitArbi by itself whenever both are open. The connection stays on this computer (127.0.0.1) and only LitArbi for Word may use it.

The LitArbi tab

Insert Citation — the pane: search, filter (Exhibits, Witness / Expert, Authorities), click exhibits into the citation, Insert.
Edit and Manage, Update Exhibits — in LitArbi, as before: renumber by order of appearance and rewrite every citation in the document.
Go to LitArbi, Edit Exhibit — LitArbi in front, at the exhibit of the citation where the cursor stands.
Insert List of Exhibits — the list of the exhibits this document cites, at the cursor; a second click updates it in place.
Refresh Exhibits, Convert to Plain Text (for the copy you file), Settings, Help.

On the iPad

Word for iPad gives add-ins no button on its ribbon — Microsoft’s rule for every add-in. LitArbi opens from Insert ▸ Add-ins (German Word: Einfügen ▸ Add-Ins), and after the first time it waits there under recently used add-ins. Open in LitArbi switches to LitArbi for iPad at the matter and the exhibit.

Your firm deploys it — the usual way, and nothing to do: open a document, tap Insert ▸ Add-ins, and choose LitArbi (under the add-ins of your organisation).

Try it now, with a Mac (Microsoft’s way to load an add-in that isn’t deployed yet):

Download manifest.xml.
Connect the iPad to the Mac with a cable. In Finder, select the iPad and open the Files tab.
Drag manifest.xml onto Word.
On the iPad, close Word completely (swipe it away in the app switcher), open it again and open a document.
Insert ▸ Add-ins: LitArbi is listed under Developer.

The first time: sign in with your firm’s server address, your email and your password (and the code from your authenticator app, if your firm requires it). The add-in remembers the sign-in on this iPad.

No server at hand? Download the fictional sample exhibit list and open it in the add-in’s Settings (“Open a bundle’s exhibit list”) to try citing.

What it is made of: the add-in is LitArbi’s own code; the only other part is Office.js, the script every Word add-in uses, loaded from Microsoft.

Your password goes only to your firm’s server; nothing passes through LitArbi. End-to-end encrypted matters can’t be read from the server — cite them with LitArbi on the same computer.