1. In an interactive data entry system wherein a user is presented with a data entry screen which includes a display of manadatory and optional data entry fields, the method for identifying to the user only those fields in which data must be entered, said method comprising the steps of initially displaying the formatted data entry screen to the user with only said mandatory data entry fields highlighted, checking the correctness of data entered by the user in both said mandatory and optional data entry fields, and if an error is detected in the data entered in either said mandatory or optional data entry fields, processing and redisplaying the incorrectly entered data with highlighting.