Usage question: How do you create templates?

[mjc]

Hello,

I am getting started with docx4j, and I'd like to know what would be the best way to create templates...

I have tried playing with it. I managed creating a template using both the "old" add-in and the "Author" Word Add-In. While they work for most of the basic cases, I found that I had to manually edit the word xml to get the following cases working:

• Repeating items so they show up as a nested list (inside another list)
• Using an od:component tag when using the "Author" add-in

Now, I might missing the point here, and that is why I ask that you tell me how you guys do it. I will be evolving in an environment where non-technical users (that is people having close to no knowledge of the OOXML/OpenDoPE specs) will have to modify templates.

Ideally, what I'd like to do is this:

1. Define a fixed data model (Javabeans in my case)
2. Generate an xml detailing data model format (XML representation of my beans, for example using XStream, or JAXB)
3. Have a user import said XML model into the OpenDoPE Add-In in Word
4. Have same user build the template by binding against imported XML model
5. At generation time, use the built template to generate the document by rebinding content controls against the computed datamodel (that will be same format as the original one

As fas as I can see, I can easily do all of these already. My only issue is the fact that the Add-In features do not allow enough flexibility to my taste.

Is there another tool I haven't found? How do you guys do it? Any of you working in a similar environment (where non-tech personnel has to design templates)?

Thanks!

Mike