Serialization is an important VDP (variable data printing) application. Incremental Information Objects (IIOs) allow us to keep track of steps in a workflow by modifying their serialized information at each step. Usually the IIO progression is defined by specific rules that change the visual properties of the IIO. We herein propose an additional constraint that defines a specific structure to the underlying bit string defining the IIO. We can then use the structure to either identify the workflow stage without access to the main ID database; modify the current workflow stage due to additional factors (user authentication, location, etc.); or use the information in the IIO as additional security information