Thanks, Can you give me some leads or samples as to what methods are used?

The webinars and macro samples i have studied only seem to offer methods to format existing content. Can a macro import a textfile/rtf/dotx from the same file folder as the active document? (Sample or link to resourse/webinar for this?) Maybe I can make a menu of macros, designed to import selected text. Maybe this is the wrong design to choose?

I worry that I might have to go the whole developer XML route.



Remember, I want the template (dotx) to have all the content hidden, but but available via an Contents selection interface. The desired text content (docx) only appears if text "headers" for example, are selected as required content. When the user "refresh" document only the selected content shall appear in the document.
Also note the template is distribted, not just used at HQ.

Thanks.

I did not catch this tip earlier. I am investigating "user form" in Word Help. Word Help suggests
Developer tab >Drop down list &
>building block gallery

Is this the right tack for me, do you think?

Here is information about the Developer Tab. It depends on how much time and effort you want to put into your template up front.

A userForm is probably the best option. It is certainly a good one.
Create a Simple Userform

I would suggest putting the individual parts into AutoText or Building Blocks and having your UserForm insert them into the document as needed. They should be created using Heading Styles that are used to create a Table of Contents. Then your userForm can insert a table of contents field (possibly also in AutoText if you customize your TOC) and update it as it finishes.

The AutoText/building blocks can be stored in your template but don't display in the document until/unless called into the document. They are not any part of the document's size. For me, AutoText is much easier to format and edit than trying to directly insert contents using the userForm (vba).

Automated Boilerplate Using Microsoft Word
How to create a table of contents in Microsoft Word

If you simply want to use the Building Block Gallery approach without the UserForm, I would suggest exploring Greg Maxey's tools (free).
Building Blocks & AutoText

For an example of a simple custom gallery, take a look at my 2003 WordArt Add-In for 2010-2013. While that holds WordArt, you can certainly put complex text in your template's galleries and those galleries can easily be attached to QAT buttons in the template. Note, though, that the gallery buttons all look the same and are cryptically named.

You could also add a custom ribbon to your template to allow much more flexibility (or restrict user choices). Customize the Ribbon (It doesn't take rocket science). That could include one or more userForms and custom galleries.

I have that macro sample working, the text entered into the suggested user form appears into my document as promised.
I will checking out your other tips over next few days. On closer inspection of your links CK, you may very well get a Customer soon!

I can see the potential. Many Thanks.
All the welcome reply's to this post are getting the ball rolling for sure, and I will be looking back over the posts and links to review suggestions as my understanding increases.

p.s.

I have a bit more to learn yet so I will be lurking around this forum for a couple of months at least, maybe til Spring! The results I want will be all better if I am prepared to put the work into it.

I will share the results of my research and experiments with this project as I get the parts of document template working.

I sincerely hope you don't need my services. I am a criminal defense lawyer!
This is my hobby to release pressure. Doug Robbins, Greg Maxey, Stefan Blom, Graham Mayor and others on this forum could provide help though.

Lol, stick around... I may need someone to defend the quality of my coding!
But as you say, let's hope i can avoid that!

Just out of curiosity CK, what is the story behind the "donate" links on your webpages? I guess any funds are intended to meet the cost of hosting, but what gives?

It is intended to help offset the cost of hosting. Most of the [bandwidth] activity on my web site is people reading the word pages and downloading. I probably should switch web hosts.