Abstract: Computer programs or other informational data are recorded on one or more sheets in the form of lines of optical bar code. At least one Control Array line containing characters which define the format for the program or other informational data to be transmitted to a specific digital computer is included in the optical bar code in addition to the data lines which contain characters representing the particular program of other information. A bar code scanner scans the lines of optical bar code and converts the scanned marks and spaces of the optical bar code into digital data representative of the characters in the line which is scanned. The digital data from the Control Array line is stored as Control Array data, and the digital data from one or more data lines are stored as program or informational data.