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Last Updated: 2026-07-10
Edit Documents Using Microsoft Word

Edit Documents Using Microsoft Word

A system admin must configure the Word Connector for Contract Lifecycle Management. See Set Up Microsoft Word Connector for Contract Lifecycle Management
The
Microsoft Word Connector
integrates with workflows, offering an alternative editing experience to the native editor for Contract Management and Document Intelligence.
The connector provides 2 distinct editing options:
Microsoft Word for Desktop
 and
Microsoft Word for the Web
. While Word for the Web offers a streamlined experience for browser-based drafting, the desktop version supports advanced formatting and local application features:
  • Core Editing
    : Provides a seamless launch of documents from Workday CLM into the local Microsoft Word desktop application.
  • Synchronization
    : Automatically synchronizes document edits from Microsoft Word back to Workday CLM both during and after the editing session.
  • Document Content
    : Supports synchronization of document-level comments and content, including icons, tables, and images.
  • Highlighting
    : Ensures native text highlighting applied in the desktop application successfully syncs back to Workday CLM.
  • Multi-User Access
    : Supports both single-user and multi-user desktop launches for document editing, with a recommendation of 10 or fewer simultaneous users.
  • Version Integrity
    : While a document is open in Microsoft Word for Desktop, Workday enforces a version lock to prevent conflicting uploads and deletions. Authorized users can initiate a force unlock to terminate a session.
  • AI capabilities (Add-In)
    : Find core capabilities from the Workday CLM side panel in Word Desktop. These include:
    • Ask AI
    • Standard AI clauses and highlighting
    • Ticket commenting and collaboration
Microsoft Word is developed by Microsoft and, on its own, doesn't provide the side panel capabilities found in the Editor for Contract Management and Document Intelligence. To use these advanced, contract-specific AI features directly within the Microsoft Word experience, you need the Workday CLM AI Tool Add-In.
Considerations:
  • These options are only available on the Workday CLM editor:
    • Saved questions
    • Batch processing
    • Automate with Custom AI
    • Document level comment highlighting and redirect: Clicking a document-level comment in the Add-In doesn’t highlight or jump to the corresponding text in the document.
  • Comments sync:
    • Document-level comments made during a Word editing session don’t appear in the Add-In until the document has synced back to CLM. Once synced, users must also click the refresh icon in the Add-In to find them.
    • Comments made during an editing session don’t appear in the web platform in real time. Users with the page open need to refresh to see updates.
  1. Click
    Workflow
    .
  2. On the
    Tickets
     tab, select a ticket.
  3. Click the document name.
  4. Click
    Edit with Microsoft
    at the bottom-right of the document viewer.
  5. Select
    Microsoft Word for the Web
    to edit your document in the web version or
    Microsoft Word for Desktop
     to work on the desktop version.
    For the
    Microsoft Word for Desktop
     integration, the first time you access the connector, you must enter your Microsoft credentials to authorize access. If your browser asks to
    Open Microsoft Word
    , confirm the request.
  6. (Optional) To access CLM AI capabilities in Microsoft Word for Desktop, open
    Word Desktop
    , select
    Add-ins
    , and then click
    CLM AI Tool
    .
The document opens in the chosen version of Microsoft Word. Changes auto-save and synchronize back to CLM automatically throughout the session and upon completion of the editing task.
Opening the document in 1 editor locks the other editing sessions (such as the native CLM editor or Word for the Web) to prevent version conflicts. While a Word desktop session is in progress, you can’t upload, delete, or create new versions of that document in the platform.
If a Microsoft Word desktop session remains open or appears stuck after editing has ended, users with Edit rights for the current workflow stage can initiate a force unlock to terminate a session. Workday records every force unlock action in the document’s activity log.