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Placeholders

Time to learn: 5 minutes
Prerequisites: None - this is the foundation of Gdocify

Placeholders are blank spaces in your template that automatically fill in with data from your data source. Think of them like blanks in a form that get filled with each person's information.

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Placeholders Quick Reference

Syntax{{placeholderName}}
LocationIn your Google Doc
Maps toData source fields
AdvancedConditions, Markdown

What Are Placeholders?​

Placeholders are special text markers in your Google Doc that tell Gdocify "replace this with data from my data source." They look like this: {{placeholderName}}

Simple analogy: Like using "Dear ______" in a letter template, where the blank gets filled with each person's name. Or like a customizable coffee cup where you write different names each time.

Before and After Example​

See how placeholders work in practice:

Here's how a template with placeholders becomes a personalized document:

Before

Template with Placeholders

Dear {{customerName}},

Your order {{orderNumber}} has been confirmed.
Total: {{orderTotal}}

Thank you for your purchase!
→
After

Generated Document

Dear John Smith,

Your order ORD-12345 has been confirmed.
Total: $299.00

Thank you for your purchase!

Why Use Placeholders?​

Placeholders let you:

  • Create one template for many documents
  • Automate data insertion without manual typing
  • Ensure consistency across all generated documents
  • Save time by eliminating repetitive work

How to Create Placeholders​

Creating placeholders is simple - just type them directly in your Google Doc:

  1. Open your template in the Gdocify editor
  2. Click where you want to add a placeholder
  3. Type the placeholder syntax: {{yourPlaceholderName}}
  4. The placeholder will appear in your document

Basic Placeholder Syntax​

The syntax is always: {{placeholderName}}

  • Use double curly braces: {{ and }}
  • No spaces inside the braces: {{name}} not {{ name }}
  • Use descriptive names: {{candidateName}} not {{n}}

Examples​

  • {{firstName}} - Becomes "John" or "Sarah"
  • {{email}} - Becomes the email address
  • {{companyName}} - Becomes the company name
  • {{invoiceNumber}} - Becomes "INV-001"

Mapping Placeholders to Data Fields​

After creating placeholders, you need to map them to your data source:

  1. Open the Mapping Config overlay
  2. Find your placeholder in the list
  3. Select the corresponding field from your data source
  4. Save the mapping

Think of it as telling Gdocify "whenever you see {{firstName}}, replace it with the First Name from my spreadsheet."

Best Practices for Naming Placeholders​

Use Descriptive Names​

✅ Good:

  • {{candidateName}}
  • {{invoiceNumber}}
  • {{customerEmail}}
  • {{orderDate}}

❌ Avoid:

  • {{name1}} (not descriptive)
  • {{x}} (too vague)
  • {{placeholder}} (doesn't tell you what it is)

Match Your Data Fields​

If your data source has a field called "First Name", use {{firstName}} or {{first_name}}. This makes mapping easier and more intuitive.

Be Consistent​

Use the same naming style throughout:

  • camelCase: {{firstName}}, {{lastName}}
  • snake_case: {{first_name}}, {{last_name}}

Pick one style and stick with it.

Real-World Example​

Here's a resume template with placeholders:

{{candidateName}}
{{candidateEmail}}
{{candidatePhone}}
{{candidateAddress}}

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
{{summary}}

EXPERIENCE
{{experience1}}

{{experience2}}

SKILLS
{{skills}}

EDUCATION
{{education}}

When Gdocify generates documents, each placeholder gets replaced with actual data from your data source.

Advanced Features​

Placeholders support advanced features:

  • Markdown Formatting: Render markdown in placeholders
  • Conditions: Show or hide placeholders based on rules
  • Delete Paragraph: Remove entire paragraphs when hiding

Learn more in:

Common Mistakes​

  • Forgetting double curly braces: Use {{name}} not {name} or [name]
  • Typos in names: {{firstName}} and {{firstname}} are different
  • Spaces in names: Use {{firstName}} not {{first name}}
  • Special characters: Avoid special characters in placeholder names

Tips​

  • Test as you go: Add a few placeholders, test, then add more
  • Use clear names: Future you will thank you
  • Document your placeholders: Keep a list of what each one does
  • Start simple: Begin with basic placeholders, add complexity later

Next Steps​

Now that you understand placeholders:

  1. Learn about Image Placeholders for dynamic images
  2. Explore Conditions for conditional content
  3. Check out Markdown Formatting for rich text