Patent ID: 7203898

Claim:
A document processing method using a computer which can execute an application program for creating application data, a document writer for acting as a device driver, and a layout program for performing layout processing of document data, comprising: a conversion step of converting application data created by the application program into a first document data file processible by the layout program by using the document writer, in response to a print instruction from the application program; an activation step of automatically activating the layout program in response to the conversion processing in said conversion step by using the document writer such that the layout program processes the first document data file converted in said conversion step and displays document data of the processed first document data file on an operating screen; and a setting step of setting either of a first mode in which the layout program newly opens the first document data file obtained in the conversion processing regardless of a second document data file which has already been opened by the layout program before the conversion processing in said conversion step, and a second mode in which the layout program adds the document data of the first document data file obtained in the conversion processing to the second document data file, wherein the document data of the first document data file is displayed in accordance with a mode set in said setting step.