Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improvement in data processing systems involving a host processor and a remote printer which prints alphanumeric characters from data communicated from the host to the printer. The improvement provides the provision of an intermediate processor having an interactive display terminal. There are means in this intermediate processor for controlling the setup of repetitive format parameters of documents containing the alphanumeric characters printed by the printer. In addition, there are means on the display terminal for displaying in the form of a menu the various document parameters available to the setup means in the intermediate processor. Thus, an operator at the display terminal may select appropriate parameters for setting up the repetitive format of the document.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improvement to an information processing system for conducting data processing operations wherein the processing relates to the value of the information and conducting text processing operations wherein the processing affects only the format of information. The improvement provides the combination of means for initiating a data processing session in said system, means for switching to a text processing session before the completion of the data processing session, means for storing the status of the non-completed data processing session during the text processing session, and means for switching back from the text processing session to the non-completed data processing session.