1. A method of formatting documents comprising: receiving a data stream in which each data record includes line data records therein and is associated with a layout identifier indicating a type of data included within a data record at a first computer; associating a first layout identifier with a first format region defining a first area on a document page; associating a second layout identifier with a second format region defining a second area on the document page; receiving layout parameters including formatting instructions relating to the presentation of data records in a document and specifying fixed data to be included in a format region each time a particular layout identifier is encountered, wherein a first set of layout parameters correspond to the first format region and controls placement of each data record within the first format region on the document page and a second set of layout parameters correspond to the second format region and controls placement of each data record within the second format region on the document page; formatting each data record within a corresponding format region at a second computer; and dynamically creating the document by applying the first set of layout parameters corresponding to the first layout identifier to each data record associated with the first layout identifier and applying the second set of layout parameters corresponding to the second layout identifier to each data record associated with second layout identifier.