XML transforms may be automatically generated by separating a standard process that can produce features of many transforms, and a variable process that is tailored to the features of a particular transform. The standard process can be reused with any number of variable processes, while variable processes and corresponding input files may be tailor-made for generating a particular transform. The combined processes operate on an input file to create an output transform. An input file contains any number of data patterns from a source file and the corresponding data patterns from a new file that the source file is to be converted into. The automated process can use the data from such an input file to create a legitimate transform. The input file can also include custom transforms that are pre-made for incorporation into an output transform.