ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator

ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator is a Gutenberg block that lets you scaffold content at speed. Add the block to any post or page, type an abbreviation — just like Emmet in code editors — and press Tab or Enter. The block immediately expands into proper WordPress core blocks: paragraphs, headings, lists, tables, groups, quotes, and more.

No more clicking through the block inserter to build repetitive layouts. Write ul>li*5>lorem6 and get a five-item list with six words of lorem ipsum per item in one keystroke.

How it works

1. Add the ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator block anywhere in the Gutenberg editor.
2. Type an abbreviation in the input field.
3. Press Tab or Enter.
4. The block either replaces itself with the generated blocks (default) or inserts the new blocks after itself — controlled by the toggle in the sidebar.

Abbreviation Syntax

Lorem ipsum text

• lorem → 20 words of lorem ipsum
• lorem5 → 5 words of lorem ipsum

Single elements

• p>lorem10 → Paragraph with 10 lorem words
• h2>lorem5 → H2 heading with 5 lorem words
• h1 through h6 are all supported

Repeating elements

Use *N to repeat a tag N times:

• ul>li*3>lorem4 → Unordered list with 3 items, each 4 words
• ol>li*4>lorem6 → Ordered list with 4 items, each 6 words
• table>tr*3>td*4>lorem3 → Table with 3 rows and 4 columns

Nesting

Use > to nest elements:

• group>h2>lorem5 → Group block containing an H2 heading
• div>p>lorem20 → Group block containing a paragraph
• blockquote>p>lorem15 → Quote block with a paragraph inside

Sibling elements

Use , to create multiple sibling blocks in one go:

• h2>My Title, p>lorem20 → An H2 heading followed by a paragraph
• h3>lorem4, ul>li*3>lorem5, p>lorem10 → Heading, list, and paragraph

Complex combinations

• group>h2>lorem5, p>lorem20 → Group block with a heading and paragraph
• table>tr*2>td*3>lorem4 → 2×3 table filled with lorem ipsum

Supported Block Types

Abbreviation tag
Gutenberg block

p
core/paragraph

h1 – h6
core/heading

ul
core/list (unordered)

ol
core/list (ordered)

table
core/table

group / div
core/group

blockquote
core/quote

pre
core/preformatted

Block Settings

Replace block on Tab/Enter (sidebar toggle)

• On (default): pressing Tab or Enter replaces this block with the generated blocks.
• Off: the generated blocks are inserted into the editor without removing this block, so you can keep typing more abbreviations.

Remove block: click the × button in the top-right corner of the block to delete it from the editor.

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Developer Notes

Source code is publicly available on GitHub for review, study, and contributions:

https://github.com/bplugins/lorem-ipsum

From the Gutenberg Editor

1. Open any post or page in the WordPress block editor.
2. Click the + inserter and search for ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator.
3. Click the block to add it.

From the Plugin Directory

1. In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New.
2. Search for ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator.
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.

Manual Upload

1. Download the plugin .zip file.
2. Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
3. Choose the zip file and click Install Now.
4. Activate the plugin.

Manual FTP

1. Unzip and upload the plugin folder to /wp-content/plugins/.
2. Activate through Plugins in the WordPress admin.

What does this plugin do?

It adds a special Gutenberg block where you can type Emmet-like abbreviations (e.g. ul>li*3>lorem5) and expand them into real WordPress core blocks by pressing Tab or Enter.

Does it work with any WordPress theme?

Yes. The block only runs inside the Gutenberg editor and generates standard core blocks, so it is compatible with any theme.

What happens to the ShortCut block after I expand an abbreviation?

By default the block replaces itself with the generated blocks. If you turn off the Replace block on Tab/Enter toggle in the sidebar, the generated blocks are inserted without removing this block so you can keep generating more content.

Can I generate multiple block types at once?

Yes. Separate patterns with a comma: h2>My Heading, p>lorem20, ul>li*3>lorem4 creates a heading, a paragraph, and a list in one keystroke.

How do I control the number of lorem ipsum words?

Append a number to lorem: lorem10 gives 10 words, lorem50 gives 50 words. Using lorem alone defaults to 20 words.

Can I use real text instead of lorem ipsum?

Yes. Just type your own text after >. For example, h2>Hello World creates an H2 heading with the text “Hello World”.

How many times can I use the block?

Unlimited. Add as many instances as you need across any post or page.

Where can I get support?

Post your questions on the WordPress support forum or email support@bplugins.com.

1.0.1

• Re-write readme.
• Change Plugin name.

1.0.0

• Initial release