An apparatus and method for formatting a label are provided. An example method includes receiving data, a first portion of the data being encoded in a first encoding scheme; defining, via a processor, a first field block based on first text layout information received in association with a first field block command, the first field block for rendering text on a label; and formatting, via the processor, the first portion of the data within the first field block according to a first text display direction received in association with a first field parameter command.