Disclosed is a printing system having a data processing apparatus on which printer driver software capable of setting various kinds of print conditions is installed, and a printer for performing a printing operation based on print job data transmitted from the data processing apparatus. The printer driver software provides a user with a setting screen on which various user-selectable setting options for printing are displayed and can visually alter at least one of the setting options from the setting screen based on information about the state of the printer acquired from the printer. The information on the state of the printer includes information on the remaining amount of a consumable item loaded in the printer or an optional device connected to the printer, information on the size of a recording medium loaded in the printer, or information as to whether the optional device is connected to the printer.