A forms recognition system having a method which assists an operator in creating an electronic template. The automated method would allow an operator to view an electronic bitmap of a master or blank form on a graphical display, the master form having bounded or semi-bounded regions depicting fields. An operator would display the bitmap, select a single point within a bounded or semi-bounded region on the bitmap with a pointing device, and the coordinates representing the bounded region would be automatically determined using the single point selected by the operator.