target object 26 and altered by focusing optics 38 such as a lens the altered image is then projected onto a photo element 40 such as a photodiode for a scanner scanning a 1d target object 26 or pixel array for an imager for imaging a 2d target object 26 the image obtained by the photo element 40 is then analyzed and decoded by a scan engine 42 that includes for example in addition to the photo element 40 and focusing optics 38 an amplifier analog to digital converter and decoder for analyzing and decoding the image from a signal provided from the photo element 40 the decoded image information generated by the scan engine 42 can be transmitted from an input output i o port 44 the i o port 44 is also capable or reading information or can be used to program the scan engine 42 from a remote source such as the host computer 14 an example embodiment of a program formatting process 60 is illustrated in fig5 at 62 a single application verb code is scanned or imaged enabling a program 24 within the scanner 12 or remote computer such as a host computer 14 to be formatted for performing a verb configurations desired by the operator at 63 a target indicium reflecting the desired symbology type is scanned formatting or changing the program 24 to perform the desired verb configuration on the symbology type of the target indicium at 64 the program 24 is formatted to read the single application verb code scanned at 62 for the symbology type matching a target indicium the process 60 does not require a scan end verb step as the formatting process of the program 24 automatically terminates once the.