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Step 4: Map Placeholders to Data Fields

Time to complete: ~2 minutes
What you'll do: Connect each placeholder to a field in your data source
What you'll need: Placeholders added to your template and data source connected

Mapping is where you tell Gdocify "whenever you see this placeholder, replace it with data from this field." It's like connecting the dots between your template and your data.

What Is Mapping?​

Mapping is the process of connecting each placeholder in your template to a specific field in your data source. For example:

  • {{candidateName}} → maps to the "Name" field in Airtable
  • {{candidateEmail}} → maps to the "Email" field in Airtable
  • {{skills}} → maps to the "Skills" field in Airtable

Opening the Mapping Configuration​

UI Navigation

Where to find it: Click the "Mapping Config" button in the top-right area of the editor (it's one of the floating action buttons on the right side). Look for a button that says "Mapping" or "Mapping Config".

  1. Click the "Mapping Config" button (top-right floating button)
  2. You'll see two tabs: "Mappings" and "Sections"
  3. Click on the "Mappings" tab
Screenshot Placeholder

Screenshot needed: The Mapping Config overlay showing the Mappings tab with a list of placeholders and dropdown menus for selecting data fields.

Mapping Your Placeholders​

For each placeholder in your template:

  1. Find the placeholder in the list (Gdocify automatically detects all placeholders)
  2. Click the dropdown next to the placeholder name
  3. Select the data field from your data source that should fill this placeholder
  4. Repeat for all placeholders

Example Mapping​

Let's say you have a resume template with these placeholders:

  • {{candidateName}}
  • {{candidateEmail}}
  • {{candidatePhone}}
  • {{skills}}

And your Airtable has these fields:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Skills

Your mapping would look like:

  • {{candidateName}} → Name
  • {{candidateEmail}} → Email
  • {{candidatePhone}} → Phone
  • {{skills}} → Skills

Advanced Settings​

For each mapping, you can configure:

  • Markdown Formatting: Enable if your data contains markdown that should be rendered
  • Conditions: Show or hide this placeholder based on rules
  • Delete Paragraph: Remove the entire paragraph if the placeholder is hidden

We'll cover these advanced features in the Features section.

Verifying Your Mappings​

After mapping, you should see:

  • All placeholders have a data field assigned
  • No unmapped placeholders (unless intentional)
  • A confirmation that mappings are saved

What Happens Next?​

Once all placeholders are mapped, Gdocify knows exactly what data to use. Now you need to configure where the generated documents will be saved. Continue to Step 5: Configure Result Settings.

Tips​

  • Map as you go: Don't wait until all placeholders are created - map them as you add them
  • Use similar names: If your placeholder is {{candidateName}} and your field is "Candidate Name", the mapping is obvious
  • Test one at a time: Map a few placeholders, test, then add more

Common Issues​

  • "Field not found": Make sure you've selected the correct data source and refreshed the fields
  • "Placeholder not detected": Check that you used the correct syntax {{placeholderName}}
  • "Mapping not saved": Click the "Save" button after making changes