ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator – build block layouts in seconds

Description

Stop clicking through the block inserter – scaffold entire Gutenberg layouts with dummy text in a single keystroke.

Why ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator?

Building repetitive layouts block by block is slow. ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator adds a Gutenberg block that lets you scaffold content at speed: type an abbreviation – just like Emmet in code editors – press Tab or Enter, and the block instantly expands into proper WordPress core blocks: paragraphs, headings, lists, tables, groups, quotes, and more.

Write ul>li*5>lorem6 and get a five-item list with six words of lorem ipsum per item in one keystroke. Need a heading, a paragraph, and a list together? Chain them with commas and generate all three at once.

Free Features

• Emmet-Like Abbreviations: Expand shorthand like p>lorem10 into real core blocks with Tab or Enter.
• Lorem Ipsum on Demand: lorem gives 20 words; append a number (lorem5, lorem50) for exact word counts.
• Repeat & Nest: Use *N to repeat elements and > to nest them – build lists, tables, and groups instantly.
• Sibling Blocks: Separate patterns with commas to create multiple blocks in one go.
• Real Text Support: Type your own text after > (e.g. h2>My Title) instead of lorem ipsum.
• Replace or Insert Mode: Choose whether the block replaces itself or keeps itself in place for more generating.
• Unlimited Use: Add as many instances as you need across any post or page.

How to Use

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

Use Cases

• Theme & Plugin Developers: Fill test pages with realistic block structures in seconds.
• Designers: Mock up page layouts with placeholder text before real content arrives.
• Content Teams: Scaffold recurring article structures (heading + list + paragraph) instantly.
• Agencies: Speed up staging-site builds with ready-made dummy content.

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Source Code

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

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