Abstract: A syringe or any other dispensing device is coupled to a conventional dispensing control unit for dispensing viscous material such as adhesives and solder paste through a hollow needle thereof as metered amounts of pressurized gas are supplied to the syringe in response to a valve control signal applied to the dispensing control unit. The syringe is mounted on an automated frame for independent movement along the X, Y and Z axes in response to drive signals. Predetermined pattern and fluid flow functions are selected for each of a plurality of consecutive movement elements by operator actuation of corresponding discrete manually actuable switches to thereby create a workpiece program which can be automatically executed on command to dispense the viscous material over the upper surface of a workpiece such as a PC board in the prescribed manner.