db.some.blocks = db.somenopara.blocks | db.para.blocks | db.extension.blocks db.somenopara.blocks = db.list.blocks | db.formal.blocks | db.informal.blocks | db.publishing.blocks | db.graphic.blocks | db.technical.blocks | db.verbatim.blocks | db.bridgehead | db.remark | db.revhistory | db.indexterm | db.synopsis.blocks The extent to which any particular change is easy or hard depends in part on how many patterns need to be changed. The DocBook Technical Committee is generally open to the idea of adding more patterns if it improves the readability of customization layers. If you think some refactoring would make your job easier, feel free to ask. Removing Attributes Just as there may be more elements than you need, there may be more attributes.