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New 'Fill-in-the-Blank' Feature
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Let me start with this reminder:
"The best fill-in-the-blank tool is Pathagoras' Instant Database."
- You can create as many 'blanks' in your document as you wish with variables as simple as [Client Name].
- You can complete all of your variables in a single pass.
- You can automatically save the variables-to-values pairings, creating a reusable client record for other documents.
But that's not what we are announcing today. We are announcing a new 'fill-in-the-blank' tool for when you don't want or need the Instant Database. This tool is for when you just want to insert a value in your document in the first pass, without any intent to preserve the value beyond the document.
We offer to you several approaches to creating a 'blank' to fill in:
- You can type a simple {fill-in} command. It's just two curly braces surrounding a 'stop-word'. The default stop-word, as you likely guessed, is 'fill-in'.
- You can use the more robust <<*Options* . . .>> routine. This approach lets you list several pre-set answers, with a 'fill-in' value at the end. If you choose, 'fill-in', Pathagoras will stop and wait for your answer.
Some examples:
My favorite fruit is {fill-in favorite fruit}.
My favorite fruit is <<*Options*apples/bananas/cherries/fill-in favorite fruit>>.
My favorite fruit is <<*Options*apples/bananas/cherries/favorite fruit (fill-in)>>.
As you likely have gleaned, so long as the 'stop-word' (here, 'fill-in') appears somewhere within the choice, Pathagoras will stop and ask for a value.
Notes:
- You are not restricted to 'fill-in' as your 'stop word.' You can easily set you own.
- You can uses !groups! feature to fill-in the blanks in multiple locations with the same value.
A reminder: This tool does not save values. I know that some will like this tool so much that you will begin to use it for your standard documents in place of [variables], and then get distressed when you have to re-input data for each new document created for a client or customer. But in terms of easy setup and simple usability, and for when you just need to insert something quickly into your document and move on, this new feature is 'da bomb'.
NOTE:
If you want to use Options blocks to provide default answers, but also want to provide space for a non-standard answer that can be saved, don't forget that a [variable] can always be presented as an option. E.g.:
My favorite fruit is <<*Options*apples/bananas/cherries/[favorite fruit]>>.
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As always, call us if any questions or comments. And, as always, keep
those cards and letters and great suggestions coming in. |
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If you are within a year of your initial purchase or renewal of your Annual Support Agreement, or are a monthly subscriber, the Pathagoras 2017.1 upgrade is free to you. Just click the button below. At the next page, insert your Serial Number and Pathagoras will let you know where you stand. (If you don't know your serial number, no problem. Just write.)
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--RoyRoy Lasris
Innovative Software Products of Virginia
www.pathagoras.com
info@pathagoras.com
 1-866-PATHAGOras (1-866-728-4246) (tollfree)
(757) 877-2244 (Virginia, USA -day)
(757) 898-7374 (Virginia, USA -eve)
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