ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator – build block layouts in seconds
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>lorem10into real core blocks with Tab or Enter. - Lorem Ipsum on Demand:
loremgives 20 words; append a number (lorem5,lorem50) for exact word counts. - Repeat & Nest: Use
*Nto 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
- Add the ShortCut and Dummy Text Generator block anywhere in the Gutenberg editor.
- Type an abbreviation in the input field.
- Press Tab or Enter.
- 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 ipsumlorem5→ 5 words of lorem ipsum
Single elements
p>lorem10→ Paragraph with 10 lorem wordsh2>lorem5→ H2 heading with 5 lorem wordsh1throughh6are all supported
Repeating elements
Use *N to repeat a tag N times:
ul>li*3>lorem4→ Unordered list with 3 items, each 4 wordsol>li*4>lorem6→ Ordered list with 4 items, each 6 wordstable>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 headingdiv>p>lorem20→ Group block containing a paragraphblockquote>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 paragraphh3>lorem4, ul>li*3>lorem5, p>lorem10→ Heading, list, and paragraph
Complex combinations
group>h2>lorem5, p>lorem20→ Group block with a heading and paragraphtable>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.
Did you like this plugin? Dislike it? Have a feature request? Please share your feedback with us
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Source Code
Source code is publicly available on GitHub for review, study, and contributions:
https://github.com/bplugins/lorem-ipsum
