  We consider inductive systems of C*-algebras with completely positive
contractive connecting maps. We define a condition, called C*-encoding, which
is sufficient for the limit of the system to be completely order isomorphic to
a C*-algebra and hence guarantees a unique C*-algebra associated to the limit.
When the system consists of finite-dimensional C*-algebras, this condition is
also necessary and thus characterizes when the limit is completely order
isomorphic to a (nuclear) C*-algebra. C*-encoding systems generalize the NF
systems of Blackadar and Kirchberg and the CPC*-systems of the author and
Winter. Moreover, any system of completely positive approximations of a nuclear
C*-algebra gives rise to a C*-encoding system. Consequently a separable
C*-algebra is nuclear if and only if it is completely order isomorphic to the
limit of a C*-encoding system. This gives an inductive limit description of all
separable nuclear C*-algebras equivalent to the recent construction of the
author and Winter but without the additional structure of order zero maps.
Without these extra structural requirements, one can easily construct examples
of our systems, which we demonstrate for all amenable group C*-algebras.
