PURPOSE: To automatically set the combination of desirable control modes in a machine by reading a control pattern such as a bar code, etc., provided at the tip of an original, discriminating it and executing the combination of the control modes such as a copy size, an alteration size and the number of copying sheets.

CONSTITUTION: The control pattern 20 (usually, it is a bar code) printed at the tip of the original 21 is read out, preceding the reading of the original 21. Based on the read result, the combination of the control modes is set in the machine so as to be executed. Since the control modes (copy mode and operation mode) can be automatically set in the machine, the operability can be drastically improved.