Data is stored in multiple formats based on the nature of the data and the characteristics of the possible output devices to minimize processing requirements and processing time while maximizing output quality. A data set is broken into objects and further into units so that each unit within an object contains a similar data type. Units that require less processing power for presentation are stored in a device-independent format. Units that require more processing power for presentation are stored in device-dependent form at determined by the presentation parameters of an attached peripheral presentation device. At presentation time a document database, or storage area, assembles the document from the units determined by the presentation device. The document is composed of data that is specific for the presentation device or data that is device independent. The data is output to a physical output device such as a display, a printer, a fax, or a logical output device such as an email generator or any other data processing system.