To recognize the number of rows and columns of a table and the number of characters among ruled lines in the directions of the rows and columns, to decide the number of rows and columns in accordance with the maximum character number and to easily create a table document when a scanner reads and recognizes a table that is created by handwriting and creates a document.

A CPU 2 executes table original read processing, makes an image scanner 5 that is mounted on a carriage which mounts a print head of a printer 8 read a table that is handwritten on original paper, acquires/identifies a ruled line coordinate of the read table image, and after that, recognizes a maximum column number and a maximum row number of the table based on the maximum column number and a maximum row number of characters that are written in each block which is surrounded with row and column ruled lines of the table image. The ratio of the recognized maximum column number and maximum row number to a detected paper size is calculated, a character point number and column and row pitches in the table block are calculated based on the ratio, the ruled line coordinate of a new table is calculated, only ruled lines of the table are shown on a display device 7 and then, table and document edit processing is executed.