Abstract: A process for allowing non-programmers to generate customized formats for computer printouts according to user specifications. The process allows a user to create a report or other formatted representation of data by responding to a sequence of prompting stimuli. Each stimulus is presented to the user by a computer processor in combination with a menu of command choices or in combination with instructions for responding by alphanumeric command or designation. The sequence of prompting stimuli is dependent on previous command choices to present only relevant stimuli to the user. A list of generic default format commands specifies parameters not specified by the user. Consequently, the user needs to respond only to a few stimuli in order to generate a completely formatted representation of data.