Create a database of tagged text blocks to be later composed in a document

[davide445]

I need to create different versions of the same few pages document, with some text parts always the same and others changing, based on specific conditions and not on pre-defined one.

Using Data Merge didn't seem to be solution since is supposed to fill the placeholders with a pre-defined list of elements, so not the case due I will need do decide time by time what to include.

Placing external contents using resource manager didn't seem either to fit, better suited for images or entiere pages.

The new Books feature seems more related to pages and documents than single text boxes.

What I will need is to create a DB of text paragraph tagged in a way I can search them and compose my document selecting time by time the paragraph I need, wanted to ask if there is any feature that can help.

[v_kyr]

46 minutes ago, davide445 said:

The new Books feature seems more related to pages and documents than single text boxes.

That's what book publishing features are usually all about, namely structuring, organizing and finally combining all documents related to a book project. So you can for example setup all the parts (TOC, foreword, chapters, index ... etc.) into seperate docs which all together build the book.

52 minutes ago, davide445 said:

What I will need is to create a DB of text paragraph tagged in a way I can search them and compose my document selecting time by time the paragraph I need, wanted to ask if there is any feature that can help.

Sounds more like some snippet tool feature some better text/code editors and other third party apps (like the Alfred app offers too etc.) do provide. So to say a collection of snippets with tags you can create, add, choose and select from on demand.

[davide445]

2 hours ago, v_kyr said:

That's what book publishing features are usually all about, namely structuring, organizing and finally combining all documents related to a book project. So you can for example setup all the parts (TOC, foreword, chapters, index ... etc.) into seperate docs which all together build the book.

Of course was not complaining about the feature, that for sure has his usage in the publishing process, just asking if I'm wrong and can be used for my needs.

2 hours ago, v_kyr said:

Sounds more like some snippet tool feature some better text/code editors and other third party apps (like the Alfred app offers too etc.) do provide. So to say a collection of snippets with tags you can create, add, choose and select from on demand.

Someting like, but I consider it more a catalogue of text components I can choose from, I can eventually edit and evolve during the time, accessing previous revisions, etc. more than an automated "frequent text" automatically generated.

More like a DAM for text of sort.

Not that I'm needing so far all of this, just describing the "ideal" solution so maybe someone can point me to already available features that can help me achieving something similar.

[Old Bruce]

8 hours ago, davide445 said:

I need to create different versions of the same few pages document, with some text parts always the same and others changing, based on specific conditions and not on pre-defined one.

Maybe make a Publisher Template with the boilerplate text already there. Then just copy paste from a Word Processor file the text that will be unique. Publisher is not great for writing more than a few words at a time. 

[BlueLiner]

Probably not what you are looking for but... I design graphics for banner adds and email marketing. I save common text blocks, and or their format, using "Assets". Then when needed, I just drag them in and edit the text as necessary.

[v_kyr]

See related:

• espanso
• espanso Github

... there are a bunch of such tools available (free & commercial) just do a Google search after the context topics you're interested in.