functions of the document reading device and includes storage means for storing the image data in operation the user inputs the document or other data into the document reading device to generate the image data and selects the desired settings for generating the image data by any suitable means fig2 shows a preferred sample screen display 200 for enabling the system to variably copy or reproduce the documents the user selects the variable copying option shown as 202 once the user has selected this option the user can then proceed to select the parameters for the overlay region 0018 fig3 shows a preferred sample screen display 300 for selecting the location of the overlay region the user first selects the overlay region preferably the overlay regions are associated with string variables or number variables as shown by 302 304 and 306 once the user has selected a variable associated with a particular overlay region the user specifies the location of the overlay region on the document the user specifies the position of the left side of the region 308 the top of the region 310 the width of the region 312 and the height of the region 314 a thumbnail representation 316 of the document showing the location of the overlay region is displayed once the user has selected the.