Most attorneys know they can view documents in the NetDocuments mobile app. Fewer know about ndKeyboard — a built-in feature that lets you share a link to any NetDocuments document directly from your phone’s keyboard, without ever leaving the app you’re working in.
What is ndKeyboard?
ndKeyboard is a custom mobile keyboard built into the NetDocuments app. When you’re composing an email, a Teams message, a text, or anything else on your phone, you can switch to ndKeyboard, search your NetDocuments repository, and insert a document link — all without switching apps or copying and pasting anything manually.
It works with Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, standard text messaging, and virtually any other app that accepts keyboard input. It’s available on both iOS and Android.
How to Use ndKeyboard
Step 1: Install the NetDocuments Mobile App
If you haven’t already, download and set up the NetDocuments app on your iPhone or Android device. See our NetDocuments mobile setup guide if you need help getting started.
Step 2: Enable ndKeyboard in Your Phone’s Settings
Before you can use ndKeyboard, you need to add it as a keyboard on your device:
- On iPhone: Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard, then select ndKeyboard from the list. You may also need to grant it Full Access.
- On Android: Go to Settings → General Management → Keyboard → On-screen keyboard (exact path varies by device), then enable ndKeyboard.
You only need to do this once.
Step 3: Switch to ndKeyboard While Composing
When you’re in any app and ready to insert a document link, tap the globe or keyboard icon on your phone’s keyboard to switch to ndKeyboard. A search bar will appear.
Step 4: Search for the Document
Type the document name, matter name, or any keyword. ndKeyboard searches your NetDocuments repository in real time and displays matching results.
Step 5: Tap to Insert the Link
Tap the document you want to share. A link to that document in NetDocuments is inserted directly into your message — no copy/paste, no app switching.
Where It Works
ndKeyboard inserts document links anywhere you can type on your phone. The most common uses:
- Outlook — quickly attach a document link to an email reply while you’re away from your desk
- Microsoft Teams — share a document in a channel or direct message without hunting through file pickers
- Text messages — send a client or colleague a direct link to a document in seconds
Why This Matters
The friction of sharing documents from a phone typically goes like this: open the DMS app, find the document, copy the link, switch back to your email app, paste it in. ndKeyboard eliminates every step after “find the document.” For attorneys who are frequently mobile, that adds up quickly.
Need help rolling out NetDocuments to your firm’s mobile users? Contact Optiable — we’ve helped over 550 law firms get the most out of their NetDocuments environment.