A data processing apparatus includes a processing unit that distinguishes a command of a first command system including commands designating attributes of a printing form and a command of a second command system including commands designating attributes that are not defined in the first command system. When a recording instruction including an instruction designating the printing form by a command of the first command system and data arranged in accordance with the printing form designated by the command of the first command system are input, the processing unit arranges the data included in the recording instruction in accordance with a printing form designated by the command of the second command system to generate recording data.