Disclosed is an image forming apparatus to form an image based on an XPS file including, a plurality of storage sections each of which has a different free storage space and a different access speed; and a control section to refer to information concerning usage frequency of each individual file stored in the XPS file to select the storage section to store the individual file subjected to a data decompression, to data-decompress the individual file, and to store the data-decompressed individual file in the selected storage section.