One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for creating a reusable template for use in a text-processing system. In this embodiment, the method includes using a graphical user interface (GUI) to display a representation of a condition of a user-defined rule that may be used to process textual information. The condition includes an attribute name, an operator, and an attribute value. Upon receipt of input from a user via the GUI, the method further includes creating a template that has a condition based upon the condition of the user-defined rule. The condition of the rule template includes the attribute name and the operator from the corresponding condition of the user-defined rule. The condition of the rule template also includes an attribute-value placeholder that is associated with the attribute value from the corresponding condition of the user-defined rule.