Getting Started
Project Types

Project Types

HeyDonna supports two project types: General and Legal. Choosing the right type unlocks the features you need for your workflow.

General vs Legal

FeatureGeneralLegal
AI transcription
Synchronized audio playback
AI proofreading
Track Changes
DOCX export
Auto-process pipeline✓ (proofreading only)✓ (full pipeline)
Legal formatting (Q/A, colloquy)
DOCX templates (cover, appearances, certification)
AI Format tool
Section-scoped styles

General Projects

Use General for:

  • Interviews and podcasts
  • Business meetings
  • Medical dictation
  • Any transcription that doesn't follow court formatting standards

General projects give you the full editor with AI transcription, proofreading, and DOCX export — without the legal-specific formatting rules.

Legal Projects

Use Legal for:

  • Depositions
  • Court hearings and proceedings
  • Arbitrations
  • Any transcript that needs to follow legal formatting standards

Legal projects unlock:

DOCX Templates

Attach a formatting template that defines your document structure — cover page, appearances, proceedings, certification, and exhibit index. The template controls how your export looks.

Learn about templates →

AI Format Tool

The Format tool applies court reporting formatting standards to your transcript:

  • Q/A labels with proper indentation
  • MR. SMITH: / THE COURT: speaker labels
  • BY MR. JONES: bylines after colloquy
  • Examination headers (EXAMINATION, CROSS-EXAMINATION)

Auto-Process Pipeline

Auto-Process is available for both General and Legal projects:

  • General projects — Runs transcription + proofreading automatically. No template required.
  • Legal projects — Runs transcription + proofreading + template injection + section formatting. Requires a DOCX template.

Learn about Auto-Process →

Choosing a Type

When in doubt, choose Legal for court reporting work. It includes everything General does, plus the tools you need for court-ready output.

Setting the Project Type

During Project Creation

The project type is the first step in the New Project wizard. Select General or Legal before continuing.

After Creation

You can change a project's type after it's created:

  1. Open the project from your dashboard
  2. Click Project Settings (gear icon or Settings menu)
  3. Select the General tab
  4. Change the Project Type dropdown
  5. Save your changes
⚠️

Changing from Legal to General will hide template and formatting features, but your content is preserved. Changing back to Legal restores them.