An apparatus, such as a printer or reader receives a data stream from a memory, such as from an RF or photonic memory, and compares portions of the data stream to a table of data. If a portion of the data matches an entry in the table, a corresponding entry in the table causes the apparatus to be automatically configured. Alternatively, an apparatus receives a data stream to be written, such as in a bar code symbol or tag memory. The apparatus analyzes portions of the data, comparing portions of the data to a reference table. If the apparatus identifies a match, the apparatus adjusts the writing of such data. For example, the printer writes a portion of the incoming data stream to both fields in a bar code symbol and in a portion of the memory in an adjacent RF readable tag.