PURPOSE: To enable printing using DLL font always to be performed regardless of the provision of a cartridge by providing a means to judge whether external characters should be registered in a DLLRAM cartridge or a working RAM depending on the provision of said cartridge.

CONSTITUTION: Whether a DLLRAM cartridge 7 is provided is judged and when this cartridge is connected to a connector 9, external characters are to be registered in said cartridge 7, read and sent to a development circuit 11. In the meantime, when the DLLRAM cartridge is not connected to the connector 9, external character font data is to be stored in a working RAM 3, and the external character stored in the working RAM 3 are to be read transmitted to the development circuit 11. Consequently, printing can be performed using DLL font even when the DLLRAM cartridge 7 is not provided, needless to say when it is provided.