Structured Document Creation Workflow

This skill guides you through creating multiple audience-specific documents from a single reference source while maintaining consistency, proper formatting, and cross-references.

When to Use This Skill

Use this pattern when you need to:

• Create both internal and external-facing documents from the same source material
• Maintain consistent information across multiple documents
• Extract structured requirements (timelines, roles, steps, policies)
• Ensure proper cross-referencing between related documents

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Read and Analyze Reference Material

First, thoroughly read the reference document to understand the source content.

# Example: Read reference document
from docx import Document

def read_reference_doc(path):
    doc = Document(path)
    content = []
    for para in doc.paragraphs:
        content.append(para.text)
    return '\n'.join(content)

reference_content = read_reference_doc('Reference_Document.docx')

Key actions:

• Identify all key sections, policies, and requirements
• Note any timelines, deadlines, or time-sensitive information
• Extract role definitions and responsibilities
• Identify process steps and workflows
• Flag any sensitive/internal-only information

Step 2: Extract Structured Requirements

Create a structured extraction of key information categories:

structured_requirements = {
    'timelines': [],      # Deadlines, timeframes, schedules
    'roles': [],          # Who is responsible for what
    'steps': [],          # Process steps in order
    'policies': [],       # Rules and guidelines
    'contacts': [],       # Points of contact
    'internal_only': []   # Information not for external audiences
}

Extraction checklist:

• All dates and timeframes captured
• All roles and responsibilities identified
• All process steps documented in sequence
• All policies and rules extracted
• Sensitive information flagged for internal documents only

Step 3: Plan Document Structure

Before creating documents, plan the structure for each audience:

Document planning template:

Internal Document:
- Title: [Descriptive internal title]
- Sections: [List all sections with subsections]
- Cross-refs: [References to external document]
- Sensitive content: [Mark internal-only sections]

External Document:
- Title: [Client/partner-friendly title]
- Sections: [Public-appropriate sections only]
- Cross-refs: [References to internal document if applicable]
- Exclusions: [List what's omitted for external audience]

Step 4: Create Documents with Consistent Formatting

Create each document maintaining:

• Consistent terminology across all documents
• Matching section numbering where applicable
• Aligned visual formatting (headers, bullets, tables)
• Clear cross-references between documents

# Example: Create document with consistent structure
from docx import Document
from docx.shared import Inches, Pt
from docx.enum.text import WD_ALIGN_PARAGRAPH

def create_document_template(title, sections):
    doc = Document()
    
    # Title
    heading = doc.add_heading(title, 0)
    heading.alignment = WD_ALIGN_PARAGRAPH.CENTER
    
    # Add sections
    for section in sections:
        doc.add_heading(section['title'], level=1)
        for content in section['content']:
            doc.add_paragraph(content)
    
    return doc

Step 5: Add Cross-References

Ensure documents reference each other appropriately:

Internal document should include:

• Reference to external document version
• Notes on what information is shared externally
• Links to related internal policies

External document should include:

• Reference to internal contact for questions
• Version/date information
• Clear scope boundaries

Cross-reference example:

For internal process details, refer to: [Internal Document Name]
For customer-facing guidelines, refer to: [External Document Name]

Step 6: Quality Check

Before finalizing, verify:

Consistency checks:

• Same terminology used in both documents
• Dates and timelines match across documents
• Role definitions are consistent
• No contradictory information

Audience appropriateness:

• Internal document contains all necessary operational details
• External document excludes sensitive/internal-only information
• External document is clear and professional
• Both documents serve their intended purpose

Cross-reference validation:

• All cross-references are accurate
• Document titles/names match in references
• Version numbers are consistent

Example Structure

Reference Document: Return_Issues.docx
    ↓
Structured Extraction
    ↓
┌─────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────┐
│  Internal_RA_Process    │  Key_Account_RA_Policy  │
│  (Internal Document)    │  (External Document)    │
├─────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────┤
│ • Full process details  │ • Customer guidelines   │
│ • Internal contacts     │ • External timelines    │
│ • Sensitive criteria    │ • Public policies       │
│ • Operational steps     │ • Contact information   │
│ • Cross-ref to external │ • Cross-ref to internal │
└─────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────┘

Tips for Success

1. Start with extraction - Don't create documents until you've fully extracted structured requirements from the reference
2. Maintain a content map - Track which content goes in which document to avoid omissions or contradictions
3. Use consistent headers - Same section titles where content overlaps helps maintain alignment
4. Review both together - Always review documents side-by-side to catch inconsistencies
5. Version together - Keep both documents on the same version cycle to maintain alignment

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• ❌ Creating documents before fully understanding reference material
• ❌ Inconsistent terminology between internal and external versions
• ❌ Missing cross-references between related documents
• ❌ Exposing internal-only information in external documents
• ❌ Contradictory timelines or requirements across documents
• ❌ Forgetting to update both documents when source material changes