PURPOSE: To execute the dispersion control of an image file and to effectively use the resources of a local memory by referring to an image file to exist at remote memory in addition to the image file to exist at the local memory and fetching as bit map data into a document.

CONSTITUTION: An image file designated out of the image file to exist at a local storing means 3 or a remote storing means 4 is transferred from a said storing means to a holding means 9 and the held image file contents are referred to. Further, the referring contents are displayed in the image area of a document, the writing of the image data corresponding to the referring contents is executed to the image area of a document and the document including the image is printed out. Thus, it is not necessary for the image file to be referred to to exist in the self-local storing means wholly, the dispersion control of the image file can be executed and the resources of a local storing means can be effectively used.