Patent ID: 8239956

Claim:
A document output apparatus configured to output digital document data and print setting data in which the print setting data include setting parameters defining print settings for the digital document data, wherein the document data and the print setting data are associated one with the other, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a designation of a setting parameter which is excluded from a range of hash calculation; a first calculating unit configured to calculate a first hash value for the print setting data of a set which includes the digital document data and the print setting data; and an embedding unit configured to embed the first hash value for the print setting data in the digital document data, wherein the first calculating unit calculates the first hash value for the print setting data excluding the setting parameter designated by the designation received by the receiving unit, from among the print setting data, and wherein the setting parameters which are designated by a user include a setting parameter for the number of printed copies and a setting parameter for sorting.