Abstract: The apparatus comprises a dot matrix character generator (16) which includes a ROM (17) for a series of standard alphanumeric characters, for the ISO alphabets, the Kana alphabet and a series of Kanji ideograms which are more frequently used. The character generator further comprises a RAM (18) in which other Kanji idoegrams can be selectively stored. They are normally registered in an archive mass memory (47) and can be sequentially transferred to the RAM, a portion of which operates as a FIFO memory if the code required is not present therein. The character generator (16) is connected by means of an internal bus (42) to at least a video control unit (19) and a control unit (27) for a dot printer (38), which units may be served in accordance with a bus priority and arbitration logic. The printer is provided with a printer control unit (93, 82, 83, 41) having an auxiliary character generator (41) for the ISO and Kana characters and a reduced group of Kanji characters.