Automatic template generation with inbuilt template logic interface

Abstract

An automatic template system can allow users to create automatic templates and use the automatic templates to generate documents using data from a linked CRM system. To facilitate the generation of automatic templates, the automatic template system can provide a template creation interface allowing a user to generate an automatic template (including setting up template logic). The template creation interface can include a CRM integration area with a set of tagged data fields representing relevant data from a linked CRM database and a document editing area allowing a user to edit document content, insert merge fields linked to tagged data fields, and edit template logic via an inline logic interface for adding and modifying template logic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 retrieving, from a database, a plurality of tagged data fields each corresponding to a database entry of the database system;   generating a user interface (UI) allowing a user to modify document content of a template and to associate template merge fields with the tagged data fields; and   responsive to receiving the user input via the UI to create a logic rule associated with a portion of the document content, including a logic interface within the UI allowing the user to 1) define a logic condition associated with a selected tagged data field of the plurality of tagged data fields and 2) associate the logic condition with a conditional document section such that when data within the tagged data field satisfies the logic condition, a document generated using the template is modified to include the conditional document section.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the logic condition comprises a logic value and a target relationship of the logic value to a value of the selected tagged data field for the logic condition to be satisfied. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving, from the user via the logic interface, a logic value and the target relationship defining the logic condition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the target relationship is selected from a group consisting of equal to, greater than, and less than. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the logic interface is further configured to, responsive to data within the tagged data field not satisfying the logic condition, modify an appearance of the conditional document section to display an alternative conditional document section when the template is used to generate the document. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein including the logic interface within the UI comprises displaying the logic interface inline within the document content at a position previously occupied by the portion of the document content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the user input to create the logic rule associated with the portion of the document content comprises determining the portion of the document based on a current position of a text selection cursor within the UI. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the user input to create the logic rule associated with the portion of the document content comprises determining the portion of the document based on a current user selection of document content within the UI. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the user input to create the logic rule comprises receiving a selection of a selectable interface element corresponding to logic rule creation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein defining the logic condition associated with the selected tagged data field of the plurality of tagged data fields within the logic interface comprises a drag and drop of a tagged data field from the CRM integration interface portion to the logic interface. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:
 retrieving, from a database, a plurality of tagged data fields each corresponding to a database entry of the database system;   generating a user interface (UI) allowing a user to modify document content of a template and to associate template merge fields with the tagged data fields; and   responsive to receiving the user input via the UI to create a logic rule associated with a portion of the document content, including a logic interface within the UI allowing the user to 1) define a logic condition associated with a selected tagged data field of the plurality of tagged data fields and 2) associate the logic condition with a conditional document section such that when data within the tagged data field satisfies the logic condition, a document generated using the template is modified to include the conditional document section.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the logic condition comprises a logic value and a target relationship of the logic value to a value of the selected tagged data field for the logic condition to be satisfied. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the steps further comprise receiving, from the user via the logic interface, a logic value and the target relationship defining the logic condition. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the target relationship is selected from a group consisting of equal to, greater than, and less than. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the logic interface is further configured to, responsive to data within the tagged data field not satisfying the logic condition, modify an appearance of the conditional document section to display an alternative conditional document section when the template is used to generate the document. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein including the logic interface within the UI comprises displaying the logic interface inline within the document content at a position previously occupied by the portion of the document content. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the user input to create the logic rule associated with the portion of the document content comprises determining the portion of the document based on a current position of a text selection cursor within the UI. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the user input to create the logic rule associated with the portion of the document content comprises determining the portion of the document based on a current user selection of document content within the UI. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the user input to create the logic rule comprises receiving a selection of a selectable interface element corresponding to logic rule creation. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein defining the logic condition associated with the selected tagged data field of the plurality of tagged data fields within the logic interface comprises a drag and drop of a tagged data field from the CRM integration interface portion to the logic interface.