Unlike other legal tech that tries to do everything, Draftable focuses on one thing: making document comparison seamless. The software doesn\u2019t need hours of training, and it doesn\u2019t overwhelm you with features you don\u2019t need. And with its newest upgrade, redlining directly in email, it has become even more useful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been demoing this new feature at conferences and firms are saying, \u2018I want everyone in my firm to have this. This is something I need,’\u201d Roxburgh said.<\/p>\n
He noted these features also come at a more affordable price than any competing software. More than 900 law firms globally have already switched to Draftable, including leading firms like Allens, Brodies and Mills & Reeve. So read ahead for a quick primer.<\/p>\n
Getting Started<\/h2>\n
The simple interface of Draftable is designed to mimic familiar software to clearly show lawyers what changed between two documents. Users upload two versions of a file and, with a single click, the software highlights the differences.<\/p>\n Draftable offers more than 25 ways to upload documents, letting lawyers work exactly how they like. You can drag and drop files, browse from your desktop, right-click or pull them straight from iManage, NetDocuments, SharePoint or other web-based software. There\u2019s also quick access to recently compared files and even the option to paste text.<\/p>\n The software integrates with Word, Excel, Outlook and other everyday tools, \u201calmost pedantic\u201d in the number of paths it offers, Roxburgh said. But that\u2019s the point.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s part and parcel of trying to build something that time-poor lawyers need to just work, and everyone\u2019s got their own way of doing things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Once the software runs the comparison, lawyers can review the changes in several ways, depending on their preference. A drop down menu offers the choice to redline in Draftable directly, using track changes in Word, as a side by side comparison and in a departures table.<\/p>\n In the side by-side comparison, for instance, the original appears on the left, the modified on the right, and changes are highlighted in a customizable, color-coded display.<\/p>\n A sidebar on the right highlights each change, with the ability to tag or make a note.<\/p>\n Lawyers can scroll through a long agreement or jump directly to specific sections where edits appear. The report can be saved as a PDF for sharing, or exported into Word for further markup.<\/p>\n Once documents are uploaded, the software creates several comparison types simultaneously, so users can select their preferred view. The interface is deliberately simple, which is part of the design philosophy.<\/p>\n Roxburgh said users should never have regrets about having made the wrong decision in their workflow. \u201cProducts should be designed in a way where you don\u2019t have to go backwards,\u201d he said. \u201cYou maintain the flexibility to allow people to flow through the product to get the outcome they want.\u201d<\/p>\n Once the changes are reviewed, it provides the option to save or send only what you need to your colleagues. For instance, users could select to export only the redline and departures table of the modified file as an email. The goal is to give lawyers immediate confidence in what has changed, without the distraction of irrelevant noise.<\/p>\n The newest feature most firms are buzzing about\u2014only released in May 2025\u2014is Draftable\u2019s ability to handle redlines directly in email.<\/p>\n Imagine a long email negotiation among a few lawyers. Someone says, \u201cYep, see my changes below.\u201d But they haven\u2019t visually indicated the changes. Instead of having to compare each email in a thread of dozens, Draftable\u2019s integration with Outlook compares emails in the thread to highlight the differences.<\/p>\n Clicking the menu that says \u201cCompare against an earlier email\u201d automatically tries to select the right one. Or users can select a specific email or compare it against the first email they sent.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is hugely valuable because Outlook can\u2019t do this on its own,\u201d Roxburgh said. \u201cWe\u2019re using Draftable\u2019s algorithm with all that ability to detect moves and granularity.\u201d<\/p>\n Then users can accept or reject changes directly in the email.<\/p>\n Another of Draftable\u2019s standout features is how it handles departures tables. Instead of asking lawyers to comb through a full redline, the software pulls out the relevant changes and lays them out in a structured table format.<\/p>\n \u201cRealistically, most people looking at what\u2019s changed in an agreement aren\u2019t reading the full agreement,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re reading a summary someone else has created.\u201d<\/p>\n Traditionally, that summary takes hours. An associate has to review the redline, copy the relevant text into Word, paste it into a table, and add notes on what the change means and whether it goes back to the client. Draftable automates the entire process with a single command.<\/p>\n Lawyers can choose how much detail to include\u2014every change, or just those marked as important\u2014and the table can be shared as a Word or Excel document or dropped straight into the body of an email. That means a senior partner doesn\u2019t have to wait for a manual summary before weighing in. They can see the substance of the edits instantly.<\/p>\n Roxburgh said Draftable isn\u2019t stopping there. In the next several months they plan performance upgrades that will speed comparisons and improve their already stellar PDF comparison tool.<\/p>\n A modernized user experience will include improved settings, new add-ins for Microsoft Office and capability in German and French. And perhaps most significantly for Mac users, Draftable is working on a web application that can be used on any operating system and browser.<\/p>\n That\u2019s besides providing empathetic customer support with real humans at a transparent, fair price.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re less than half the cost of our competitor and we actually offer more functionality, but it\u2019s a deliberate choice,\u201d Roxburgh said. \u201cWe\u2019re doing something really boring\u2014building good products, supporting it well and charging a fair price for it. It\u2019s not rocket science, but lawyers love it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The post Redline Directly In Email? Yes, This Sleek Document Comparison Software Has Figured It Out<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s closing in on midnight, and instead of watching that movie you planned, you\u2019re toggling between three windows on your laptop.<\/p>\n Jittery after your third cup of coffee, you\u2019re trying to reconcile the \u201cfinal-final-v7-clean.docx\u201d version of a 1,000-page contract a partner sent before dinner. The deadline to file is tomorrow. The redlines are chaotic, the PDF formatting is jumping all over the place, and the software keeps crashing. Hanging over it all is the dread that a single missed change will blow the deal.<\/p>\n That\u2019s exactly the situation the fastest-growing document comparison tool Draftable<\/a> was built to resolve. \u201cEvery lawyer has lived that pain,\u201d said Caspar Roxburgh, product lead at Draftable. \u201cOur goal was to make sure they never have to again.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike other legal tech that tries to do everything, Draftable focuses on one thing: making document comparison seamless. The software doesn\u2019t need hours of training, and it doesn\u2019t overwhelm you with features you don\u2019t need. And with its newest upgrade, redlining directly in email, it has become even more useful.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been demoing this new feature at conferences and firms are saying, \u2018I want everyone in my firm to have this. This is something I need,’\u201d Roxburgh said.<\/p>\n He noted these features also come at a more affordable price than any competing software. More than 900 law firms globally have already switched to Draftable, including leading firms like Allens, Brodies and Mills & Reeve. So read ahead for a quick primer.<\/p>\n The simple interface of Draftable is designed to mimic familiar software to clearly show lawyers what changed between two documents. Users upload two versions of a file and, with a single click, the software highlights the differences.<\/p>\n Draftable offers more than 25 ways to upload documents, letting lawyers work exactly how they like. You can drag and drop files, browse from your desktop, right-click or pull them straight from iManage, NetDocuments, SharePoint or other web-based software. There\u2019s also quick access to recently compared files and even the option to paste text.<\/p>\n The software integrates with Word, Excel, Outlook and other everyday tools, \u201calmost pedantic\u201d in the number of paths it offers, Roxburgh said. But that\u2019s the point.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s part and parcel of trying to build something that time-poor lawyers need to just work, and everyone\u2019s got their own way of doing things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Once the software runs the comparison, lawyers can review the changes in several ways, depending on their preference. A drop down menu offers the choice to redline in Draftable directly, using track changes in Word, as a side by side comparison and in a departures table.<\/p>\n In the side by-side comparison, for instance, the original appears on the left, the modified on the right, and changes are highlighted in a customizable, color-coded display.<\/p>\n A sidebar on the right highlights each change, with the ability to tag or make a note.<\/p>\n Lawyers can scroll through a long agreement or jump directly to specific sections where edits appear. The report can be saved as a PDF for sharing, or exported into Word for further markup.<\/p>\n Once documents are uploaded, the software creates several comparison types simultaneously, so users can select their preferred view. The interface is deliberately simple, which is part of the design philosophy.<\/p>\n Roxburgh said users should never have regrets about having made the wrong decision in their workflow. \u201cProducts should be designed in a way where you don\u2019t have to go backwards,\u201d he said. \u201cYou maintain the flexibility to allow people to flow through the product to get the outcome they want.\u201d<\/p>\n Once the changes are reviewed, it provides the option to save or send only what you need to your colleagues. For instance, users could select to export only the redline and departures table of the modified file as an email. The goal is to give lawyers immediate confidence in what has changed, without the distraction of irrelevant noise.<\/p>\n The newest feature most firms are buzzing about\u2014only released in May 2025\u2014is Draftable\u2019s ability to handle redlines directly in email.<\/p>\n Imagine a long email negotiation among a few lawyers. Someone says, \u201cYep, see my changes below.\u201d But they haven\u2019t visually indicated the changes. Instead of having to compare each email in a thread of dozens, Draftable\u2019s integration with Outlook compares emails in the thread to highlight the differences.<\/p>\n Clicking the menu that says \u201cCompare against an earlier email\u201d automatically tries to select the right one. Or users can select a specific email or compare it against the first email they sent.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is hugely valuable because Outlook can\u2019t do this on its own,\u201d Roxburgh said. \u201cWe\u2019re using Draftable\u2019s algorithm with all that ability to detect moves and granularity.\u201d<\/p>\n Then users can accept or reject changes directly in the email.<\/p>\n Another of Draftable\u2019s standout features is how it handles departures tables. Instead of asking lawyers to comb through a full redline, the software pulls out the relevant changes and lays them out in a structured table format.<\/p>\n \u201cRealistically, most people looking at what\u2019s changed in an agreement aren\u2019t reading the full agreement,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re reading a summary someone else has created.\u201d<\/p>\n Traditionally, that summary takes hours. An associate has to review the redline, copy the relevant text into Word, paste it into a table, and add notes on what the change means and whether it goes back to the client. Draftable automates the entire process with a single command.<\/p>\n Lawyers can choose how much detail to include\u2014every change, or just those marked as important\u2014and the table can be shared as a Word or Excel document or dropped straight into the body of an email. That means a senior partner doesn\u2019t have to wait for a manual summary before weighing in. They can see the substance of the edits instantly.<\/p>\n Roxburgh said Draftable isn\u2019t stopping there. In the next several months they plan performance upgrades that will speed comparisons and improve their already stellar PDF comparison tool.<\/p>\n A modernized user experience will include improved settings, new add-ins for Microsoft Office and capability in German and French. And perhaps most significantly for Mac users, Draftable is working on a web application that can be used on any operating system and browser.<\/p>\n That\u2019s besides providing empathetic customer support with real humans at a transparent, fair price.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re less than half the cost of our competitor and we actually offer more functionality, but it\u2019s a deliberate choice,\u201d Roxburgh said. \u201cWe\u2019re doing something really boring\u2014building good products, supporting it well and charging a fair price for it. It\u2019s not rocket science, but lawyers love it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The post Redline Directly In Email? Yes, This Sleek Document Comparison Software Has Figured It Out<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s closing in on midnight, and instead of watching that movie you planned, you\u2019re toggling between three windows on your laptop. Jittery after your third cup of coffee, you\u2019re trying to reconcile the \u201cfinal-final-v7-clean.docx\u201d version of a 1,000-page contract a partner sent before dinner. The deadline to file is tomorrow. The redlines are chaotic, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":134063,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Image-5-Departures-Table-q5Yayg.png?fit=1345%2C931&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134072\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/134063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Draftable\u2019s](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/Image-1-Draftable-New-Comparison-Window.png?resize=1080%2C604&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>No Regrets Design<\/h2>\n
![\"Draftable\u2019s](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/Image-2-Redline-Viewer-screenshot.png?resize=1080%2C830&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>![\"Draftable\u2019s](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/Image-3-Redline-Viewer-Next-Steps.png?resize=1080%2C827&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Redline in Email<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/Image-4-Redline-in-Email-scaled.png?resize=1080%2C573&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>A Faster Departures Table<\/h2>\n
![\"Draftable\u2019s](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/Image-5-Departures-Table.png?resize=1080%2C748&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>More to come in 2025\u2014for half the money<\/h2>\n
Getting Started<\/h2>\n
<\/a>No Regrets Design<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/a>Redline in Email<\/h2>\n
<\/a>A Faster Departures Table<\/h2>\n
<\/a>More to come in 2025\u2014for half the money<\/h2>\n