The present invention is directed to a system and method of automatically adjusting the operating parameters of a welding-type system based on the type of welding being carried out. The invention includes a controller that is configured to automatically delineate between a tacking and a welding mode of operation. The controller is also designed to decrement a timer at the onset of a welding event and if the timer expires before the welding event is complete, then automatically enable a crater fill control feature of the welding-type system being used to support the weld event. If the timer has not expired when the weld event is terminated, then the controller automatically disables the crater fill control features and prevents the delivery of post-weld event termination filler to the weld or maintenance of a welding power at the weld sufficient to melt a consumable electrode.