Abstract: An image forming apparatus from which an external memory unit storing an image formation mode is arbitrarily detachable, has an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium in a desired image formation mode, an inserting unit for inserting the external memory unit, a determining unit for determining realizability/unrealizability of the image formation mode stored in the external memory unit inserted in the inserting unit, and an alarming unit for alarming the determination result from the determining unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus from which an external memory medium storing an image formation mode operable in various kinds of image forming apparatus and being adapted for use in various kinds of image forming apparatus on a common basis is detachable. The apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material in a desired image formation mode, an attachment unit adapted to attach the external memory medium thereto, a discriminator for discriminating as to whether an image formation mode stored in the external memory medium is executable or not when the external memory medium is attached to the image forming apparatus and an information unit for informing a discrimination result by the discriminator.