To properly manage documents based on a management level.

In step (1), creation of a document is started in an arbitrary client PC; and in step (2), detection of a document content and setting of a security class (management level) are executed. In step (3), the management level, the title of the document, the subtitle thereof and the like can be entered. In step (4), the entered content is confirmed; and in step (5), the entered content is stored (transferred) to attribute information (properties) of the document, and the cover sheet and header of the document are automatically created at the same time. In step (6), the document with document information is thus completed. In step (7), the document is automatically registered to a document management server. In step (8), storage of the document according to the set security class (management level) is carried out. In step (9), control of a print format according to user authority is executed.