The below text is a collection of the examples provided in various sections of the Help System, plus additional sample text. You can get a flavor of how Pathagoras works by highlighting and then copying any text on this page and pasting it into a Word document.

    Typically, document automation would be triggered when you are actually assembling a document which includes text such as that below. But you can 'trigger' a similar action by placing your cursor next to (at the immediate right of) a closing character and pressing Alt-G.

    We especially want you to take note of the fact that all text is plain text. The opening, closing and intermediate characters are all 'keyboard' text. Nothing is code! Once you have pasted the text into your Word document, you can change it to your liking. The changes you make will be reflected in your next 'run-through.' This should make it indisputably clear that, while Pathagoras performs quite a bit of magic, it is done behind the scenes. You need only provide plain text from your keyboard.

To view more examples click one the below choices:

Options (simple)

Options Text (advanced)

Optional Text

Home Page

All text on this page and the above pages can be copied and pasted into any Word document and quickly processed so that you can see the action of this feature of Pathagoras.

Suggested Shortcuts:

Copy= Ctrl-C  Paste=Ctrl-V

“Options” text: This block ‘type’ allows the user to select among several choices. Each choice is separated from the others by a simple, plain text slash (“/”). At document assembly time, the choice are presented to the user on a selection screen. The user selects one or more of the displayed choices.

   <<*Options*As per your request, the widgets will be shipped by Federal Express. We will bill you for the extra cost of shipping./As per your request, we will send the widgets by standard ground transport. This may take 3 to 5 additional days./As per your request, we will hold the widgets for pickup by your courier./The widgets you have ordered are not currently in stock. We will ship them as soon as possible. If we have not shipped within 5 days of this date, you will have the option to cancel the order.>>

“Options” text w/ “Questions”: This block ‘type’ allows the user to select among several choices. Each choice is presented not by the actual text, but by a ‘question” that has been typed at the beginning of the list of options. Each choice is separated from the others by a simple, plain text slash (“/”). At document assembly time, the choice are presented to the user on a selection screen. Since ‘radio’ was typed after “Options,” the user will be allowed to selects only one of the displayed choices.

<<*Options(radio)*Ship FedEx?/Ship Standard Ground?/Hold for Pickup?/Out of Stock?*As per your request, the widgets will be shipped by Federal Express and we will bill you for the extra cost of shipping./As per your request, we will send the widgets by standard ground transport. This may take 3 to 5 additional days./As per your request, we will hold the widgets for pickup by your courier./The widgets you have ordered are not currently in stock. We will ship them as soon as possible. If we have not shipped within 5 days of this date, you will have the option to cancel the order.>>

*Options* block (up to 5 choices separated by slashes):

<<*Options* I have one minor child./I have no children./I have __ minor children.>>

(Notes: Opening brackets—the red is only for emphasis; the word “options” surrounded by asterisks, and the options list separated by slashes. The text of the options will appear on a selection form during document assembly process. Don’t forget the closing brackets.)
 
*Options* block with “Question (up to 6 choices and 6 responses)”

<<*Options*Is there one child?/ Are there no children?/Are there two or more children?* I have one minor child to whom I give, devise and bequeath the remainder of my estate./I have no children./I have [number of children] minor children to whom I give, devise and bequeath the remainder of my estate, in equal shares.>>

(Notes: The question — which need not actually be a question — is any text set out between the second and third asterisks. The questions will appear on the selection form during document assembly process.)

<<*Options*>> with groupings:

<<*Options*!Children! I have one minor child./I have no children./I have __ minor children.>>
<<*Options*!Children! I give the remainder of my estate to my  child./I give the remainder of my estate to the following persons. /I give the remainder of my estate in equal shares to my children, per stirpes.>>

(Notes: The Group name (in this case “!Children!”) is set out between exclamation marks immediately after the second asterisk. Once a selection of the first group encountered has been made, all other options blocks with the same group name will be ‘handled’ in the same fashion. )

<<*Options*>> with groupings and questions:

<<*Options*!Children!Is there one child?/Are there no children?/Are there two or more children?* I have one minor child./I have no children./I have __ minor children.>> 
<<*Options*!Children!* I give the remainder of my estate to my child./I give the remainder of my estate to the following persons./I give the remainder of my estate in equal shares to my children, per stirpes.>>

(Notes: Once the first Options group is encountered and question answered, Pathagoras will automatically process the remaining blocks with the same group name. The selection is made using the same positions in the list. Because the processing is done automatically, you do not need to repeat the question for subsequent members of the same group.)