51. A method according to claim 39, further including the step of: controlling the CRT display to display in a distinct manner the document portions which are in the process of being defined.
39. In a data processing system for composing documents, said data processing system including means for entering data and commands relating to a document to be composed, data processor means for processing said data and executing commands, and at least one output means for presenting the document, said at least one output means including a first display device, a method for composing on a display device by a document composer a document comprising multiple lines of alphanumeric characters comprising the steps of: a. assigning a first name to represent and be associated with data presentation characteristics for a predetermined portion of said document upon entry of said first name via said means for entering; b. selecting by a document composer a first set of data presentation characteristics to be associated with a first field associated with said first name and defining the text character attributes used to produce the text characters appearing in said first field, said first field being associated with one part of said predetermined portion; c. selecting by a document composer an independent second set of data presentation characteristics to be associated with a second field associated with said first name and defining the text character attributes used to produce the text characters appearing in said second field, said second field being associated with another part of said predetermined portion; and d. responding to the entry of said first name by presenting the data in said one part of said predetermined portion with said first set of characteristics on the composer's display device and presenting the data in said other part of said predetermined portion with said second set of data presentation characteristics on the composer's display device, whereby the document composer may independently define a set of data presentation characteristics to be associated with each of a plurality of fields associated with said first name.