Since our last update in November 2025 — where we shared that we were stabilizing the platform and planning future features — we’ve been heads-down building the foundation for what’s next.

Today, we’re excited to share the first major feature — Variables — now available in Beta.

Check out a quick video of the variables feature:

🔍 What You Told Us

We heard consistent feedback from you:

1. Templates are useful, but too static
2. Editing contracts manually every time is repetitive
3. Dynamic content, structured data, and cleaner automation are essential

This release is a direct response to your most-requested improvement: the ability to build flexible templates with placeholders that become structured form fields in documents.

✨ What Are Variables?

Variables allow you to build smarter Notch templates by adding data placeholders that become interactive fields when you generate a document. Instead of editing text over and over — like client names, expiration dates, or deal values — you define variables once inside a template and reuse them every time you generate new documents.

Variables bring flexibility, consistency, and structure to your contracts, proposals, and client documents.

🛠 How Variables Work

Inside any template or document:

1. Place your cursor where dynamic content should go.
2. Type “/” to open the command menu.
3. Select Variables.
4. Name your variable (use underscores — no spaces).
   • Example: client_name
5. Press Enter — a configuration pane opens.
6. Add a user-friendly display name (e.g., Client Name) and choose the type.

📊 Supported Variable Types

You can define structured variables using the following types:

1. Text
2. Number
3. Date
4. Email
5. Phone Number
6. Dropdown

Each type enforces data consistency and reduces manual errors. More variable types, such as dynamic tables, calculated fields etc. will be added in future.

🔽 Powerful Dropdown Variables

One of the most valuable variable types is Dropdown. Instead of letting users enter free-text values (which leads to inconsistency and mistakes), Dropdown variables let you define a set of allowed choices.

For example:

Business Type

• - LLC
• - Corporation
• - Partnership

Or a simple status field like:

Auto Renewal

• - Yes
• - No

Dropdown variables give you control over structured data — reducing ambiguity and improving downstream workflows.

📄 From Template to Generated Document

After you build a template with variables:

• - Click Generate Document
• - The variables automatically become fields in the document
• - You can assign each field to specific users

For example:

• - A Sales rep fills in deal values
• - A Customer fills in their contact details
• - Finance selects the appropriate payment term

This ensures clean data input and faster completion — no back-and-forth or repeated edits.

🧪 Variables Is in Beta

We want to be transparent — Variables is currently in Beta. It’s usable and available now, but it’s also a work in progress. We’ll be expanding functionality, improving the experience, and iterating based on your feedback.

👉 Here’s how you can help shape what comes next:

• - Send feedback: support@notch.so
• - Submit feature ideas: https://roadmap.notch.so

Your voice matters — what you find useful or confusing helps us prioritize improvements.

🛣 What’s Next

This release is a milestone in our renewed development journey. We’re committed to regular updates, transparent communication, and building the features you’ve been asking for.

Thank you for your patience, trust, and continued support. Notch is evolving — and this is just the beginning. 🚀

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