Abstract: In an information management system for handling digital position data recorded by an electronic pen, the pen is designed to operate essentially independently of other system components. The pen is controlled to incorporate the position data into a data file object suitable for storage in a file system, and to expose the file object to an external data handler. The data file object may then be transported in the system from the external data handler in a sequential chain of transfers, with each transfer being independent of other transfers. The pen may be controlled to convert recordings of a first code on a product to one or more absolute positions in a coordinate system, to convert recordings of a second code to data indicative of a functional layout of the product, the data defining one or more functional areas in the coordinate system, and to map the absolute position(s) against the data to identify if the absolute position(s) falls within the functional area(s).