Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for printing an automatically assembling an electronic document is disclosed. The electronic document comprises first and second sets of pages, in which the first set of pages has a first characteristic and the second set has a second characteristic. Using a parser or based on information embedded in the electronic document, the first and second sets of pages are identified. First and second output devices, that are respectively compatible with the first and second sets of pages, are selected. The sets of pages are routed to the respective output devices, where they are output. Identifying information is also routed to be output with the pages. After the pages are output, a complete document is automatically merged or assembled based on the identifying information. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic document has monochrome or black-and-white pages and color pages. The pages are identified within the document. The monochrome pages are routed to a black-and-white printer and the color pages are routed to a color printer, where they are printed. For the color pages, identifier pages are automatically generated and printed. After printing, the pages are merged into a single document based on the identifier pages. Bar code indicia and a merger apparatus may facilitate the automated merging process.

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First Claim