A common text framework for application programs having documents of primarily text and input devices for entering and editing text of such documents is disclosed. The framework provides for the interaction of applications and handlers for input devices, and includes a text store interface and a text input processor interface. The former interface permits an application having a document of primarily text to expose the document as an abstraction. The latter interface permits a handler for an input device to access the abstraction of the document and to insert additional text into the document.