diff --git a/manual/templates/chapter_template.xml b/manual/templates/chapter_template.xml
index 7a82e33853..ea286543c3 100644
--- a/manual/templates/chapter_template.xml
+++ b/manual/templates/chapter_template.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" standalone="no"?>
 <!DOCTYPE chapter PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN" "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd" [
 
+<!ENTITY % BOOK_ENTITIES SYSTEM "./entities.ent">
+%BOOK_ENTITIES;
+
 ]>
 
 <chapter id="ch-template">
diff --git a/manual/templates/section_template.xml b/manual/templates/section_template.xml
index a32339e520..e5cb7ae34d 100644
--- a/manual/templates/section_template.xml
+++ b/manual/templates/section_template.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" standalone="no"?>
 <!DOCTYPE section PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN" "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd" [
 
+<!ENTITY % BOOK_ENTITIES SYSTEM "./entities.ent">
+%BOOK_ENTITIES;
+
 ]>
 
 <section id="sn-template">
diff --git a/manual/xml/book_info.xml b/manual/xml/book_info.xml
index 7684bae0a3..06e4cbfb05 100644
--- a/manual/xml/book_info.xml
+++ b/manual/xml/book_info.xml
@@ -2,11 +2,8 @@
 
 <!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN" "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd" [
 
-<!ENTITY BOOKNAME "Ardour Reference Guide">
-<!ENTITY BOOKVERSION "0.01"> <!-- change version here -->
-<!ENTITY BOOKDATE "2007-01-13"> <!-- change revision date here -->
-<!ENTITY BOOKID "&BOOKNAME;-&BOOKVERSION; (&BOOKDATE;)">
-<!ENTITY BUG-NUM "000001"> <!-- use this only while in draft stage -->
+<!ENTITY % BOOK_ENTITIES SYSTEM "./entities.ent">
+%BOOK_ENTITIES;
 
 ]>
 
@@ -16,10 +13,10 @@
   <productnumber>2.0</productnumber>
   <abstract>
     <para>
-      This is the manual for Ardour, a digital audio workstation for Linux
-      and MacOSX. This manual is jointly created and edited by the Ardour
-      community. It may be published in paper format at some time in the
-      future.
+      This is the manual for &ARDOUR_NAME;, a digital audio workstation for
+      Linux and MacOSX. This manual is jointly created and edited by the
+      &ARDOUR_NAME; community. It may be published in paper format at some
+      time in the future.
     </para>
   </abstract>
   <isbn>
@@ -40,7 +37,7 @@
     </publishername>
   </publisher>
   <copyright>
-    <year>2007</year>
-    <holder>Ardour Foundation</holder>
+    <year>&YEAR;</year>
+    <holder>&COPYRIGHT_HOLDER;</holder>
   </copyright>
 </bookinfo>
diff --git a/manual/xml/entities.ent b/manual/xml/entities.ent
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f21530b9f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/manual/xml/entities.ent
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<!ENTITY YEAR "2007">
+<!ENTITY BOOKNAME "Ardour Reference Guide">
+<!ENTITY BOOKVERSION "0.01"> <!-- change version here -->
+<!ENTITY BOOKDATE "2007-01-13"> <!-- change revision date here -->
+<!ENTITY BOOKID "&BOOKNAME;-&BOOKVERSION; (&BOOKDATE;)">
+
+<!ENTITY ARDOUR_NAME "ardour">
+<!ENTITY ARDOUR_VERSION "2.0">
+<!ENTITY ARDOUR_COMMAND "<command>ardour-&ARDOUR_VERSION;</command>">
+<!ENTITY ARDOUR_APPLICATION "<application>&ARDOUR_NAME;</application>">
+<!ENTITY COPYRIGHT_HOLDER "&ARDOUR_NAME; Foundation">