To automatically select an optimum printer when at least a single information processor is connected to plural printers via a network and the document data which are processed by the information processor are printed by the printers in the network.

The type and the printing speed of the font mounted on every printer in a network are previously registered, and this font is compared with the font that is used for the document data to be printed. Thus, a printer having the largest number of coincident fonts is selected. If plural printers having the largest number of coincident fonts are available, a printer of the highest printing speed is selected among those printers. If plural printers having the highest printing speed are available, a printer of the shortest output waiting time is selected among those printers. If plural printers of the shortest output waiting time are available, a printer is selected among those printers based on a prescribed rule.