Method for the input of printing data by a user used for the inscription of a printing object for the printing of an identification or marking plate (6, 16) as a print object with a first printer or an external printer, wherein the first printer has a housing with a print space made within the housing, a printing device, a receiving device for the print object to be printed, a control and evaluation unit, a data communication interface, a memory and an input and display apparatus for a user, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - Display of a printer selection window on the input and display apparatus and evaluation of a completed selection of a printer (1, 11) with which an identification or marking plate (6, 16) is to be printed upon, in the control and evaluation unit, wherein the selection includes the first printer and an external printer, - Selection of a print object selection window (22, 22') from at least two print object selection windows (22, 22') stored in the memory by the control and evaluation unit using the evaluated choice of the printer (1, 11), - Display of the selected print object selection window (22, 22') on the input and display apparatus, wherein the print object selection window (22, 22') displays at least one identification or marking plate (6, 16) or a designation of the identification or marking plate (6, 16) which can be printed upon by the selected printer (1, 11), and evaluation of a completed selection of the identification or marking plate (6, 16) in the control and evaluation unit, - Selection of an input screen (23, 23') from a plurality of input screens stored in the memory by the control and evaluation unit using the evaluated selection of the identification or marking plate (6, 16), - Display of the selected input screen (23, 23') on the input and display apparatus, - Transmission of the print data which have been input into the input screen (23, 23') to the printing device of the first printer or via the data communications interface of the printer to an external printer, depending on the previously evaluated selection of the printer (1, 11). - Display of a printer selection window on the input and display apparatus and evaluation of a completed selection of a printer (1, 11) with which an identification or marking plate (6, 16) is to be printed upon, in the control and evaluation unit, wherein the selection includes the first printer and an external printer, - Selection of a print object selection window (22, 22') from at least two print object selection windows (22, 22') stored in the memory by the control and evaluation unit using the evaluated choice of the printer (1, 11), - Display of the selected print object selection window (22, 22') on the input and display apparatus, wherein the print object selection window (22, 22') displays at least one identification or marking plate (6, 16) or a designation of the identification or marking plate (6, 16) which can be printed upon by the selected printer (1, 11), and evaluation of a completed selection of the identification or marking plate (6, 16) in the control and evaluation unit, - Selection of an input screen (23, 23') from a plurality of input screens stored in the memory by the control and evaluation unit using the evaluated selection of the identification or marking plate (6, 16), - Display of the selected input screen (23, 23') on the input and display apparatus, - Transmission of the print data which have been input into the input screen (23, 23') to the printing device of the first printer or via the data communications interface of the printer to an external printer, depending on the previously evaluated selection of the printer (1, 11).