Training module (SI): Front cover elements

In this module, you will learn how to edit the front cover of your document, including the basic document information like the title, year and number, the subjects, preamble, dates and rubrics.

Tutorial

There are a few different components to the front cover of your document that you can edit with Lawmaker.

Updating the Year, Number and Title

You can update the document’s Title, Year, Number and Subsidiary numbers (and Procedure if desired) from the Document information tab, on the right-hand panel.

A screenshot of the document information panel, showing fields for Title, Year, Number, Subsidiary Numbers and Prodedure — A screenshot of the document information panel

Often you will not know the Number of the S.I. pre-registration. It is fine to leave the Number field blank.

If you want to add a placeholder Number in a Draft S.I., please use ****.

Any other placeholder will trigger a document warning (though this will not actually impede registration).

Adding and updating subjects

To add the Subject of your S.I., click on the word Subject in the Editor.

This will bring up the Update subjects, subsubjects and extents window.

From this window, you can add subjects, extents, and sub-subjects by selecting Add subject and filling in the new pop-up window.

If the subject or sub-subject you want is not listed, select (Custom) and type the subject.

To edit a Subject/Extent/Subsubject once created, click on the pencil icon.

To delete, press the cross.

Managing dates (Made, Coming into force etc.)

In the editor, the relevant dates for your document (Made, Laid, Coming into force etc.) are managed through the Dates block. This is visible as a blue rectangle containing the text of the dates and the dates themselves, or placeholders.

To edit the dates, click on the Dates block. This will bring up the Update Dates window.

To add a new date, click Add date. This will open a new window, in which you can select:

Date type - Made, Laid, Coming into force or Other;
Date description - the actual text that will appear on the document (for example, you could choose “Laid before the Scottish Parliament” for a Laid date);
Date
Time

Click Add once specified.

You can then edit dates by clicking the pencil icon, or delete them by pressing the cross.

You can reorder dates by clicking and dragging them in the Update dates window.

Please don’t try and edit the dates by typing directly in the editor. It should not be possible to do this, but if you do edit them directly this can cause issues with registering the document.

Inserting front matter elements

There are a range of rubrics or “front matter elements” that you may want to insert in the document, including:

Correction rubric
Resolution rubric
Approved rubric
Laid in draft rubric
Royal Presence rubric.

To insert these, select Insert > Insert Front Matter Element.

Then, select the element and the specific rubric option and click Insert.

The rubric will be editable after insertion.

Inserting a table of contents

To insert a table of contents, select Insert > Insert Table of Contents. An auto-populated table of contents will appear on the front page of your document.

If you want to update the table of contents (e.g. after you have worked on the document), simply insert the table of contents again.

Updating the Enacting text

The Enacting text of your instrument will be partially populated by default.

To update this, simply fill in the placeholders provided. You can also edit any of the surrounding text.

To add further content, such as additional paragraphs, use the Content Creation Assistant by pressing Enter and selecting the desired provision to add.

If you want to delete the placeholders, the easiest way is to place your cursor within and select Placeholder from the breadcrumb, then backspace.

Video

Watch this video to consolidate the above. It comprises:

Updating the preface - Document information (0:05)
Adding and updating subjects (2:21)
Managing dates (4:04)
Inserting Front matter elements (6:23)
Inserting a table of contents (8:03)
Updating the Enacting text (9:07)

https://youtu.be/gbQZl_IdCcg

Further information

For further information, see:

Exercises

Getting started

Before you start the exercises, you will need a document ready and open in the Editor.

If you already have a document ready, you can move on to the exercises below.

If you don’t have a document ready, follow the steps below.

How to create a new project

Log in to the Lawmaker Training environment (link here).
From the Dashboard, create a new project. (See Creating a new project for details.)
Select the document type that you are most likely to work with. For Sub-type, select Regulations (for convenience).
Give it a memorable title such as[Your name] - Training project.
From the Project tab for your new document, select Document Actions > Import from legislation.gov.uk. (See Import legislation from www.legislation.gov.uk for details.)
Give the document a clear Version Description, e.g., the name of this Training module.
Import one of the following documents, depending on your document type:
- Northern Ireland Statutory Rules: The Horticulture Pilot Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
- Welsh Statutory Instruments: The Healthy Eating in Schools (Nutritional Standards and Requirements) (Maintained Primary Schools) (Wales) Regulations 2025
- Scottish Statutory Instruments: The Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (Scotland) Regulations 2025
- (UK) Statutory Instruments: The Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2025
Open the new document in the Editor.

Exercise 1 - Update the document’s year and Number

Add the current year and a number to your document.

Instructions to add a year and number

Open the Document Information tab on the right-hand panel, by clicking the document icon:
Type the current year into the Year field.
Type your number into the Number field.
Wait a few seconds for it to update in the Editor.

Exercise 2 - Update the document’s title

Change the title of your document (if you have imported from legislation.gov.uk, make it the same as that given in the first provision).

Instructions to update the document's title

Open the Document Information tab on the right-hand panel, by clicking the document icon:
Type your new title into the Title field.
Wait a few seconds for it to update in the Editor.

Exercise 3 - Add Subject and Extent

Add the following in the Subjects area of your document:

Screenshot that shows the Subjects, Subsubjects and Extent of an S.I., specifically BEE DISEASES, CONTROL OF PESTS AND DISEASES, BEEHIVE VENTILATION STANDARDS, SCOTLAND

Instructions to add subjects, subsubjects and extent to your document

In the Editor, click on SUBJECT to open the Update subjects, subsubjects and extents window.
Click Add Subject.
Click on the Subject field to open the drop down menu.
Find ‘BEE DISEASES’ and click it. You can start typing to narrow down the list of subjects.
Under Subsubject, click Add.
‘CONTROL OF PESTS AND DISEASES’ should then be selected in the Subsubject field by default. If not, click on the field and select it.
Click Add at the bottom right of the window to add the new subject and subsubject.
Click Add subject again.
Click on the Subject field to open the drop down menu.
Scroll to the bottom of the menu and select (Custom).
Your cursor should be in the field already - if not, click in the Subject field.
Type ‘BEEHIVE VENTILATION STANDARDS’. (Ignore the ‘no results found’ message as you are typing a custom subject.)
Select the Extent field and click ‘SCOTLAND’.
Click Add at the bottom right of the window to add the new subject.
Click Save.

Exercise 4 - Update the dates of your document

Update your document to have the following beneath the title (if you want, you can change ‘Laid before Parliament’ to reflect the legislative body before which your document would be Laid):

Screenshot of a document showing Made - - - - 12th January 2026 Laid before Parliament 15th January 2026 Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) and (3)

(Don’t worry if this does not reflect the procedure your document is set to follow.)

Instructions to Update dates

Click on the Dates block, i.e. the blue rectangle around the dates in the Editor, to open the Update Dates window.
(If your document has a Made date already:)
1. Click the Edit button, i.e. the pencil icon, to the right of the Made date.
2. Click in the Date field and select the specified date from the pop-up calendar.
3. Click Update.
(If your document doesn’t have a Made date already:)
1. Click Add Date.
2. In the Date type field, select Made
3. Click in the Date field and select your specified date from the pop-up calendar.
4. Click Add.
(If your document has a Laid date already:)
1. Click the Edit button, i.e. the pencil icon, to the right of the Laid date.
2. Click in the Date description field and select the relevant text for your jurisdiction.
3. Click in the Date field and select your specified date from the pop-up calendar.
4. Click Update.
(If your document doesn’t have a Laid date already:)
1. Click Add Date.
2. In the Date type field, select Laid.
3. Click in the Date description field and select the relevant text for your jurisdiction.
4. Click in the Date field and select your specified date from the pop-up calendar.
5. Click Add.
(If your document has a Coming into force date already:)
1. Click the Edit button, i.e. the pencil icon, to the right of the Coming into force date.
2. Click in the Date description field and select 'Coming into force in accordance with ***'.
3. Type ‘regulation 1(2) and (3)’.
4. Click in the Date field and select your specified date from the pop-up calendar.
5. Click Update.
(If your document doesn’t have a Coming into force date already:)
1. Click Add Date.
2. In the Date type field, select Coming into force.
3. Click in the Date description field and select 'Coming into force in accordance with ***'.
4. Type ‘regulation 1(2) and (3)’.
5. Click in the Date field and select your specified date from the pop-up calendar.
6. Click Add.
Click Save.

Exercise 5 - Complete the preamble

(For this exercise you should know how to tag References and insert a citation footnote. If you do not, please complete Training module (SI): References and Training module (SI): Footnotes, or alternatively follow the full instructions below.)

Edit the Preamble to say that these Regulations are made 'in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 9(1), 10(1), 25(1) and (3) and 32 of the Antarctic Act 1994(a)’.

(The other text in the Preamble depends on the jurisdiction.)

Include the footnote:

Instructions to edit the Preamble

Find the preamble of your document.
Edit the preamble to match the text provided, specifically:
1. Add an ‘s' after 'section’
2. In the placeholder after section, type the references to ‘sections 9(1), 10(1), 25(1) and (3) and 32’.
3. Fill in the two other placeholders with ‘Antarctic’ and ‘1994’.
4. Make any other necessary changes (e.g., for an NISR, add the relevant Minister(s) in the placeholder).
To tag the references to the Antarctic Act 1994:
1. Ensure they are correctly typed;
2. Ensure your cursor is within the Preamble;
3. Press Alt + T (alternatively, right-click and select Tag references).
Add a citation footnote by right-clicking on the blue tagged reference and selecting Insert citation footnote.
Alternatively, right-click and select ‘Insert footnote’, then click the asterisk to open the footnote, then type out the text provided in the Text placeholder.
Generate a PDF and check the results. (Note that if the Antarctic Act 1994 has been amended since this module was written the auto-generated citation footnote may be different, which is fine!)