A method for managing resources and an information processing system having three or more information processing units, with one unit functioning as a server and the other two or more units functioning as clients. A client unit can send a first resource, such as a document file, to the server unit for processing, such as printing the first resource. A second resource, such as character fonts, is generally required for processing the first resource if the server does not hold the second resource information. Together with the first resource, the client unit sends address information about the location of the second resource to the server unit. If the private character code is included in the character string, the server reads the private character font corresponding to the client which created the document file. Unfavorable change of a private character sent from a client to the server each time a new client is added to the system is avoided. Consequently, the document file may be processed, e.g. printed, by the server unit.