PURPOSE: To automatically set the printing position area of input data for a slip and a form so as to speed up and simplify work.

CONSTITUTION: The header part of a slip format is searched S1. When the character name of the header part is retrieved, it is retrieved whether the retrieved character name exists in a character name dictionary or not. When it exists in the character name dictionary, the printing position area of input data is decided based on the attribute of a numeric value or a character following a character concerned which is set in the character name dictionary, an attribute on left printing or right printing and the number of standard input digits, and the printing position area information is stored in an area file.