1. A method of utilizing an imaging-based bar code reader to identify a desired acquisition area within a captured image frame, the desired acquisition area including a target bar code and an extent of the desired acquisition area bounded by a border, the imaging-based bar code reader including an imaging system for imaging a field of view and generating image frames of the field of view of the imaging system, a memory for storing a digitized representation of a captured image frame, and an image processing system operating on the digitized representation of the captured image frame, the steps of the method comprising: identifying a region of the captured image frame corresponding to an image of the target bar code; determining a reference point within the imaged target bar code utilizing information provided to the imaging system regarding a size of the target bar code; determining a reference point within an image of the desired acquisition area utilizing information provided to the imaging system regarding a location of the target bar code within the desired acquisition area and the determined reference point within the imaged target bar code; searching for an image of the border of the desired acquisition area utilizing information provided to the imaging system relating the size of the target bar code to a size of the desired acquisition area and the determined reference point within the imaged desired acquisition area; identifying the imaged border of the desired acquisition area; and saving in memory a portion of the captured image frame corresponding to an image within the imaged border.