Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an external interface configured to connect to an external storage device;
• a reading unit configured to read, if the external storage device is connected to the external interface, a print data file stored by the external storage device;
• a template acquiring unit configured to acquire template files indicating print setting information including various setting items applicable to printing of image data included in the print data file read by the reading unit;
• an operation unit for selecting one template file out of the template files acquired by the template acquiring unit;
• and
• a printer configured to print the image data of the print data file read by the reading unit according to a print setting based on the template file selected by the operation unit.

An image forming method comprising:

• reading, if an external storage device is connected to an external interface, a print data file including setting information concerning printing and image data for printing from the external storage device connected to the external interface;
• receiving an instruction for change to a print setting different from a print setting based on the setting information included in the print data file read from the external storage device;
• and
• printing, if the instruction for change of the print setting is not received, the image data for printing included in the print data file according to the print setting based on the setting information of the print data file and printing, if the instruction for change of the print setting is received, the image data for printing included in the print data file according to a print setting designated by a user.

An image forming method comprising:

• reading, if an external storage device is connected to an external interface, a print data file stored by the external storage device;
• acquiring template files indicating print setting information including various setting items applicable to printing of image data included in the read print data file;
• and
• printing, if one template file is selected out of the acquired template files, the image data of the print data file read from the external storage device according to a print setting based on the selected template file.