Patent ID: 7652784

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a template determination section configured to determine, upon reception of a first job including a first file to be printed, whether or not the first job is associated with a first template which is provided to the first job and indicates that the first file is to be merged, and upon reception of a second job including a second file to be printed, whether or not the second job is associated with a second template which is provided to the second job and indicates that the second file is to be merged; a job holding section configured to store the first job in a storage section when it is determined by the template determination section that the first job is associated with the first template; a template analysis section configured to determine, based on the first template and the second template, whether or not the first job to be merged with the second job is stored in the storage section; and a control section configured to exert control so as to merge and print the first file and the second file when it is determined by the template analysis section that the first job to be merged with the second job is stored in the storage section.