How should prior U.S. application data be provided in patent applications?

For patent applications, prior U.S. application data should be provided as follows:

• For applications filed on or after September 16, 2012: In an application data sheet
• For applications filed before September 16, 2012: In either the first sentence(s) of the specification or in an application data sheet

MPEP 202 states: “The identifying data of all prior applications for which benefits are claimed should be reviewed by the examiner to ensure that the data is accurate and provided in an application data sheet for applications filed on or after September 16, 2012, or provided in either the first sentence(s) of the specification or in an application data sheet for applications filed prior to September 16, 2012.”