Importance

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Abstract

A system providing a Print Manager having a Form Designer which assists a user with mapping user data (e.g., 'cardfile' or database data) onto a formatted output, such as a commercial form, is described. During system operation, the user employs the Form Designer as a free-hand tool for placing fields and other information anywhere on a form (e.g., label) in a WYSIWYG ('what you see is what you get') fashion. In this manner, the user can create a content description which describes how contents (i.e., user data) are laid out. The system maintains, independent of the content descriptions, a set of templates which define print styles or layouts for particular forms, such as envelopes, address labels, and the like. The content description, once defined, can be applied against various templates in a generic fashion. An interface is provided which allows the user to cycle through various templates, with the content description being automatically applied against each template.

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First Claim