Automatic authoring and publishing system

An automated authoring and publishing system comprising:

• a) an input interface configured to select a document template having a plurality of predefined data elements arranged in a tree-like data structure;
• and
• b) a processing device coupled to the input interface and configured to
• edit one or more of the predefined data elements using content-specific pull-down menus to generate revised data elements;
• store the revised data elements in a relational database to store a customized document;
• and
• automatically synthesize text from the revised data elements by compiling the revised data elements according to the structure defined by the document template to generate the customized document.

A machine-readable medium containing instructions for automatic authoring and publishing of a document, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

• a) defining a document template based on a plurality of predefined data elements arranged in a tree-like data structure;
• b) editing one or more of the predefined data elements using content-specific pull-down menus to generate revised data elements;
• c) storing the revised data elements in a relational database to store a customized document;
• and
• d) automatically synthesizing text from the revised data elements by compiling the revised data elements according to the structure defined by the document template to generate the customized document.