An apparatus places contents data of plural records of a database, in a template, which is represented by template data, and outputs the template data in which the contents data are inserted. The apparatus stores the template data defining a field area in which the contents data are placed, and sets replacement information for replacing annotation information to be placed in the template. When the contents represented by the contents data of the plural records are placed in the field area defined by the template data, the annotation information of each record is replaced with the replacement information.