When performing Push-type data transfer from the side of an image-supply apparatus 100 to a printer 200P, it is necessary for the printer 200P to have a buffer that is capable of containing at least the capacity for one page of data. Therefore, the text/image-supply apparatus 100 stores printing-description data obtained from the application on its own memory unit 105. The image-formation apparatus 200 performs rasterization based on received printing-description data, however, in this process, when there is a link file L that is linked to the top file T of the printing-description data, the image-formation apparatus 200 specifies the link destination and sends a data-acquisition request to the text/image-supply apparatus 100, so there is no need for a buffer.