1. In a data processing system, including a document image input, a document image buffer, and a character recognition processing means, a method for managing the recognition of text characters in a plurality of document images, comprising the steps of: storing a first field definition in said system, specifying a first location and a first data capture priority value for a first field in a document type and a second field definition in said system, specifying a second location and a second data capture priority value for a second field, which is less than said first data capture priority value, in said document type; buffering in said document image buffer, a plurality of document images of said document type, containing text characters in said first and second fields; counting in said system, said plurality of buffered document images in said document image buffer and sending a data capture priority threshold signal to said character recognition processing means if said plurality is greater than a predetermined value; and performing character recognition of said first and second fields with said character recognition processing means when said plurality of buffered document images is less than said predetermined value and omitting performing character recognition of said second field with said character recognition processing means in accordance with said second field definition, in response to said data capture priority threshold signal when said plurality of buffered document images is greater than said predetermined value.