PURPOSE: To easily confirm the correct layout of characters by allotting the character data stored in a storage part to a layout area and showing the confirmation data on a display screen together with the allotted character data.
CONSTITUTION: An allotted character data storage part stores the character data 12 corresponding to the layout subjects and the confirmation data 13 which identify the data 12. A control means allots the stored data to a layout area 11 and also sets the data 13 corresponding to the data 12 to the area 11. Then the control means shows the data 13 on a display screen 100 together with the data 12 allotted to the area 11. Under such conditions, it can be easily confirmed whether the data 12 should be allotted to the area 11 based on the data 13 displayed on a part 15 out of the area 11 after the data 12 are allotted to the area 11.