Abstract: An electronic document generated in a software application is formatted for printing on a particular product using an executable template which is pre-designed with a set of template parameters. To assist the user in modifying the document, a ribbon-style user interface is configured to execute within the software application directly above the viewing area of the active document. The ribbon-style user interface includes a plurality of stacked tabs, each tab displaying task-related groupings of easily accessible functionality controls. The user interface includes a template tab which is provided with at least one grouping of controls which directly relates to the modification of the active template parameters attributed to the printable electronic document. In order to optimize functionality of the template tab, the controls provided on the template tab are customized for the intended product on which the document is to be printed.

Abstract: Virtual shapes are defined that are referenced to one or more actual, printable sheets for printing. The virtual shapes are referenced to the actual sheet using a rotation and x-axis (left-to-right) and y-axis (top-down) coordinates. The coordinates are typically specified with respect to the top-left corner of the sheet. In one example, an end-user views a shape on a display, such as a computer monitor, a kiosk screen, the screen of a personal data assistant or other digital device. The shape may correspond, for example, to a complex label shape. After the user has input customized and/or personalized text, graphics or other information to be printed, the software may apply a rotation to the virtual shape as it is referenced onto the actual page to be printed. A product identification table may be provided in order to correlate proper rotations and/or coordinates to particular types of commercial sheets. A single virtual shape may be referenced multiple times onto a single sheet.