Pathagorizing using the IDB screen

While the Instant Database typically is used to replace document variables with personal data, the IDB can also be used to create variables in an existing document that you want to convert into a form. Here is how.

1.	Display a document that you want to 'Pathagorize'. (Figure 1.)

2.	Put brackets around every name, address or other word that you want to make a variable. (Figure 2.) Then, activate the IDB system (press Alt-D).

3.	Press the Scan button to read all of your newly created bracketed 'variables' into the left side of the screen.

4.	Type at the right side of the screen the actual variable names you want to appear in the final form document. "[John R. Doe]" (as picked up by the Scan) should become "[Client Name]", "[1234 Oak Avenue]" should become "[Client Address]", etc. (Figure 3.)

5.	Press the Next button. The 'personal' text (shown in the left column) will be overwritten by the variable text at the right. (Figure 4.)

Figure 1. The original (personal) document.

Figure 2. The marked up document.

Figure 3. Use Instant Database to replace 'personal' data with variables.

Figure 4. A 'Pathagorized' document!

This technique is an alternative to the Variable Creation Assistant and other 'Pathagorizing' techniques discussed elsewhere. Your choice!

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