Abstract: A word processing system capable of encoding or printing a large number of characters is provided. The present invention is particularly valuable in the encoding and printing of a large number of characters in a foreign language such as Japanese Kanji, and the like. The word processing system will respond to either local switch control or computer generated printing commands. A font storage tray can be operatively connected with optical readers or the like to encode X-Y character positions for storage. The word processing system is easily convertible from a manual typewriter operation to an automatic printer operation. In the manual or encoding mode of operation a removable stylus is utilized in a panographic manner for selecting and positioning the font characters for respectively, loading and printing as a typewriter, or coordinating the combination of optical read codes to store or generate X and Y positions.