1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: receiving a layout selection command corresponding to a predefined layout for a document; the layout comprising a predefined set of objects, each object having a set of object properties for defining a visible element of the document; each object property having a propagation code associated with an object propagation rule for coordinating that object property with a predefined set of other object properties, wherein the propagation codes and their associated rules are stored within an object propagation rule table; receiving a publication definition command setting an object property definition for a first one of the object properties; using the object propagation code associated with the first object property to retrieve the propagation rule for the first object property from the object propagation rule table; and propagating the object property definition for the first object property to a predefined group of the objects in accordance with the propagation rule for the first object property.