A device and method for reformatting data packets, independent of any particular protocol, while maintaining scalability in speed. The packet formatter inputs and writes data words from a data cell stream and a control data stream into a plurality of selectors. The selectors, controlled by a flow controller, selectively determine specific data bytes to read into a forward control for merging the data into reformatted data packets. Machine language instructions for generating the control data are prefetched by a microcode fetch unit and provided to the flow controller which generates the control data and provides it to the selectors to provide for continuous high speed processing and formatting of data packets with minimal processing of software.
