Patent Document ID: 5533176
Application ID: 08061910

Base Claim:
1. A method of generating multi-printer formats on a bar code identification system having a plurality of bar code printers of various types that print on a web of record members, each type of bar code printer having an associated set of printer function options selectable by a user to define a layout of fields for a record member representing a format and said system including an input device actuable by a user and a display, said method comprising: prompting a user via said display to identify one or more printer types for which a format is to be generated; determining, in response to the identity of a plurality of printer types by a user, the intersection of said sets of printer function options for said selected printer types to create a set of printer function options common to each of said identified printer types; displaying information depicting options from said set of common printer function options to prompt a user to select from said displayed options to define a single format for said selected plurality of printers.

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Claim 3:
3. A method of generating multi-printer formats as recited in claim 1 wherein said bar code identification system includes a memory for storing information and said method includes storing a record member layout when said format is defined, said layout including the size of said record member for which the format is created and the position of said fields on said record member; and maintaining the position of said fields constant relative to a predetermined position on said web of record members in response to a user change in the size of said web of record members to allow a user to change said size without changing said stored field positions.