The specification discloses a method for using stored information about previous file setups to permit portions of the previous file setup to be reconstructed and selectively used for different tasks or for the stored setup to be used for multiple, compatible files. A specified task to be performed on a file is selected by the operator from a task menu. The current frame for the task specified is displayed to the operator. From the displayed frame, the operator requests stored information about a previous file setup from a diskette. Stored information about the previous file setup is interrogated to determine whether the setup contained a current frame and/or frames lower in the hierarchy of the current frame. If the result of the interrogation is positive, the stored information is further interrogated to determine whether the fields in the previous file setup are compatible with the current file. If the result of the second interrogation is positive, the stored information is copied into the current frame and/or frames lower in the hierarchy of the current frame to produce an updated setup containing restored frames.