Printing method of attached file, and image forming apparatus and image forming system employing the same

1. An attached file printing method of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

determining whether an attached file searching option as a printing option of the image forming apparatus is selected;

determining whether a printable attached file exists within an original document if the attached file searching option is selected;

converting at least one of the printable attached file and the original document to printing data as a printing target document depending on the determining result; and

printing the converted printing data,

wherein the determining whether the attached file searching option is selected and the determining whether a printable attached file exists are performed by the image forming apparatus without a host connectable with the image forming apparatus.

2. The attached file printing method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting at least one of the original document and the printable attached file as a printing target document if the printable attached file exists.

3. The attached file printing method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying the result of the determination of the existence of the printable attached file.

4. The attached file printing method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the displaying of the result comprises displaying the original document and at least one printable attached file in a tree configuration if at least one printable attached file exists within the original document.

5. The attached file printing method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determining of whether the printable attached file exists comprises determining whether at least one first attached file is attached inside the original document, and whether at least one second attached file is attached inside the first attached file.

6. The attached file printing method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising selecting at least one of the second attached file as the printing target document if there is at least one second attached file.

7. The attached file printing method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising converting the first attached file and the second attached file together to the printing data, and printing the converted first and second attached files comprised in the printing data at the same time.

8. The attached file printing method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the converting at least one of the printable attached file and the original document comprises converting the printable attached file to the printing data and excluding the original document from a printing target document.

9. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an interface unit to connect a storage medium to the image forming apparatus;

a control unit to determine whether an attached file searching option as a printing option of the image forming apparatus is selected;

an object searching unit to determine whether an original document stored in the storage medium and whether a printable attached file is included in the original document if the attached file searching option is selected;

a selection unit to select at least one of the printable attached file and the original document as a printing target document;

a file converting unit to convert at least one of the printable attached file and the original document as the selected printing target document to printing data; and

a printing unit which prints the printing data converted in the file converting unit,

wherein the control unit determines whether the attached file searching option is selected and the object searching unit determines whether a printable attached file exists without a host connectable through the interface unit.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a display unit to display result of the determination by the object searching unit.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the display unit displays the original document and at least one printable attached file in a tree configuration if at least one attached file is included in the original document.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the selection unit selects an attachment printing option based on the determination of the object searching unit and the result of the determination displayed in the display unit.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the attachment printing option further comprises at least one of an attached file automatic printing, an attachment level which is a printing level of the printable attached file, whether to print only the printable attached file, and the original document in which the printable attached file is included.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein, if the file converting unit is incapable of converting the attached file to the printing data, the control unit transmits the attached file to the host, requests conversion of the transmitted attached file to the printing data, and receives the printing data converted in the host to supply the received printing data to the printing unit.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the object searching unit determines whether at least one first attached file is attached inside the original document, and whether at least one second attached file is attached inside the first attached file.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the selection unit selects at least one of the second attached file as the printing target document if there is at least one second attached file.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the file converting unit converts the first attached file and the second attached file together to the printing data, and the printing unit prints the converted first and second attached files comprised in the printing data at the same time.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the file converting unit converts the printable attached file to the printing data and excludes the original document from the printing target document.