JP2003323280A - Information processing unit, print control method, computer-readable storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use the history of print setting information set for any printer in order to automate same print setting for a printer being a candidate to which print data are outputted so that anyone can obtain by a simple operation a print result of print style same as before with favorable reproducibility. <P>SOLUTION: An information processing unit is constituted, as its feature, such that during printing of the print data, the print setting information set for the print data is stored in an external storage device 11 as print history information, and at each time when a request for printing new print data is made, for a printer selected by a user, every function item which can be set based on the print history information which a CPU 1 has set for any of managed printers is set for the new print data, which are outputted with a PRT 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of outputting print data to a printer via a predetermined communication medium, a print control method, a computer-readable storage medium and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a data processing environment when a user creates a desired document by executing an application on an information processing device, an environment for confirming a print result by displaying and printing, an environment for actually printing. May differ from each other.

[0003]

Therefore, for example, the printers used for printing are often different in the same way as the environment, and under such circumstances, even if the user wants to obtain the same results as the previous printing. However, since the setting information of the printer at that time does not remain, there is a problem that the settings used for printing at that time cannot be reproduced in detail.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to print an information processing apparatus capable of outputting print data to a printer via a predetermined communication medium. When data is printed, the print setting information set for the print data is saved in the storage device as print history information, and management is performed for the printer selected by the selecting unit each time a new print data print request is made. The print setting information set for any printer by setting various function items that can be set based on the print history information set for any of the printers set in the new print data and printing the new print data. Use the history of to automate the same print settings for printers that are candidates for printing print data, and anyone can easily change the printer to be printed. Also provided are an information processing apparatus, a print control method, a computer-readable storage medium, and a program capable of freely preparing a print processing environment capable of obtaining a print result having the same print appearance with good reproducibility. It is to be.

[0005]

A first invention according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of outputting print data to a printer via a predetermined communication medium, which is an object for outputting the print data. Selecting means for selecting a printer to be used (corresponding to a configuration in which the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1 selects through a user interface based on a stored control program)
When the print data is printed, the print setting information set for the print data is saved as print history information in the storage device (external storage device 11 shown in FIG. 1) and managed by a management unit (shown in FIG. 1). Corresponding to a management function based on a control program stored in the CPU 1) and a printer selected by the selection unit for each print request of new print data, and one of the printers managed by the management unit. Control means for setting various function items that can be set on the basis of the print history information set for the new print data to print (corresponding to a control function based on a control program stored in the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1) ) And.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the management means stores the print condition set by the user for the print data at the time of printing as print history information in a print information section secured in the storage device. It is characterized by managing it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the print history information includes print conditions, date and time of printing, a printer name used for printing, and various function items of a printer that affect a print result set at the time of printing. It is characterized by including.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the types of various function items of the printer stored as the print history information are:
It is characterized in that it is predetermined.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the management means is based on an item prepared in advance as a storage item of a print history, and has the same function among the functions of the printer to be printed that matches the item. A set value is stored in the print history from a first pick-up means (corresponding to a pick-up function based on a control program stored in the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1) and a function picked up by the first pick-up means. A second pickup means (corresponding to a pickup function based on a control program stored in the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1) for picking up an item having a usable setting value, and an item picked up by the second pickup means. A storage unit (CP shown in FIG. 1 for storing the print history information in the storage device.
U1 corresponds to a storage function based on a stored control program).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the management means is based on an item prepared in advance as a storage item of a print history, and has the same function matching the item among the functions of the printer to be printed. A set value is stored in the print history from a first pick-up means (corresponding to a pick-up function based on a control program stored in the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1) and a function picked up by the first pick-up means. Second pick-up means (corresponding to a pick-up function based on a control program stored in the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1) for picking up an item having a usable setting value, and an item picked up by the second pick-up means are displayed. Display control means for displaying a list on the device (control program stored in the CPU 1 shown in FIG. Corresponding to the display control function) and an instruction means (KB5 shown in FIG. 1 for selecting and instructing an item to be saved from the items displayed by the display control means and operating the user interface on the CRT 9). (Corresponding to a configuration for instructing) and a storage unit (corresponding to a storage function based on a control program stored in the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1) that stores the item instructed by the instruction unit as print history information in a storage device. It is characterized by

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the management means determines whether the storage means can store the print history information in the storage device (FIG. 1).
(Corresponding to the judgment function based on the control program stored in the CPU 1) and the judgment means deletes any print history information stored in the storage device when the judgment means judges that the print history information is not in a storable state. And a delete function (corresponding to a delete function based on a control program stored in the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1).

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the judgment means judges whether or not the storage capacity of the storage device or the number of history records to be stored is exceeded, and the print history information is stored in the storage device. It is characterized by determining whether or not it can be stored in.

A ninth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the deleting means deletes an arbitrary number of print histories instructed to be deleted from the print history information stored in the storage device.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the printing conditions include imposition, number of copies, and framing.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a print control method in an information processing apparatus capable of outputting print data to a printer via a predetermined communication medium, which is a target for outputting the print data. A selection step of selecting a printer (step S501 of FIG. 5) and a management step of storing and managing print setting information set for the print data in the storage device as print history information when printing the print data (FIG. 5). 5 steps S502 to S507)
And each time a print request for new print data is made, the printer selected in the selection step can be set based on the print history information set in any of the printers managed in the management step. Control steps (steps S809 and S810 in FIG. 7) for setting various function items in the new print data and printing the new print data.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the managing step, the printing condition set by the user for the printing data at the time of printing is saved as printing history information in a printing information section secured in the storage device. It is characterized by managing it.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the print history information includes printing conditions, a printing date and time, a printer name used for printing, and various function items of a printer that affect a printing result set at the time of printing. It is characterized by including.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the types of various function items of the printer stored as the print history information are predetermined.

In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the management step is based on an item prepared in advance as a storage item of a print history, and the same function matching the item among the functions of the printer to be printed has. First pickup step (step S8 shown in FIG. 7)
06) and a second pickup step (step S806 shown in FIG. 7) of picking up an item having a set value that can be utilized in the print history from the functions picked up by the first pickup step. ,
A storage step (step S608 shown in FIG. 10) of storing the item picked up by the second pickup step in the storage device as print history information is provided.

In a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the management step is based on an item prepared in advance as a print history storage item, and the same function matching the item is selected from among the functions of the printer to be printed. First pickup step (step S8 shown in FIG. 7)
06) and a second pickup step (step S806 shown in FIG. 7) of picking up an item having a set value that can be utilized in the print history from the functions picked up by the first pickup step. ,
A display control step (step S606 shown in FIG. 10) for displaying a list of items picked up by the second pickup step on a display device, and an instruction to select an item to be stored from among the items displayed by the display control step. And a saving step (step S608 shown in FIG. 10) of saving the item instructed by the instructing step in the storage device as print history information.

In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the management step comprises a determination step of determining whether or not the print history information can be stored in the storage device by the storage step (step S603 shown in FIG. 10). Then, if it is determined by the determination step that the print history information is not in a storable state, any of the print history information stored in the storage device is deleted (step S shown in FIG. 10).
And 604).

In an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the judging step, it is judged whether or not the storage capacity of the storage device or the number of history records to be stored is exceeded, and the print history information is stored in the storage device. It is characterized by determining whether or not it can be stored in.

A nineteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the deleting step deletes an arbitrary number of print histories instructed to be deleted from the print history information stored in the storage device.

A twentieth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the printing conditions include imposition, number of copies, and framing.

A twenty-first aspect of the present invention is a storage medium storing a program for implementing the print control method according to any one of the eleventh to twentieth aspects.

A twenty-second aspect of the present invention is a program for realizing the print control method according to any one of the eleventh to twentieth aspects.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a CPU, which controls the entire apparatus and performs arithmetic processing. 2 is a RAM in which each program and data are loaded for each process,
This is the area to be executed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a ROM, which is a storage area for a system control program, font data, and the like.

Reference numeral 4 is a keyboard control unit (KBC),
Data is received by key input from the keyboard 5 (KB) and transmitted to the CPU 1. 6 is a printer control unit (PR
TC) for controlling the printer device 7 (PRT). The printer device 7 is a laser beam printer, an inkjet printer, or the like.

A display control unit (CRTC) 8 controls display on a display device (CRT) 9. A disk control unit (DKC) 10 controls data transmission and the like. An external storage device 11 is an FD (flexible disk device) or HD.
(Hard disk device) or CD (CD-ROM)
Etc., store the program and data,
At the time of execution, reference or load to the RAM 2 as necessary.
Reference numeral 12 is a system bus, which should serve as a path for data transfer between the above-mentioned components.

This apparatus operates by the CPU 1 executing a basic I / O (input / output) program, an OS (operating system), and a character data embedding program having a bitmap embedding function described below.

The basic I / O program is stored in the ROM 3, and the OS is written in the HD 11. Then, when the power of this device is turned on, the OS is read from the external storage device 11 into the RAM 2 by the IPL (Initial Program Loading) function in the basic I / O program, and the operation of the OS is started.

In this embodiment, the history storage program and related data are recorded in the external storage device 11 as shown in FIG. 2, and the history storage recorded in the FD or CD-ROM as the external storage device 11 is stored. As shown in FIG. 3, the program and related data can be installed in the external storage device 11 of this device through an FD drive or a CD-ROM drive. In this case, FD
When the external storage device 11 such as a CD-ROM or a CD-ROM is set in the FD drive or the CD-ROM drive, the history storage program and related data are read from the FD or the CD-ROM under the control of the OS and the basic I / O program. Then, it is installed in the external storage device 11 and becomes operable.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the memory map on the RAM 2 shown in FIG. 1, and corresponds to the memory map in a state where the history storage program is installed in the external storage device 11 and becomes executable.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, which corresponds to the history storage processing procedure. In addition, S501
S507 shows each step.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for deleting the history list displayed on the CRT 9 shown in FIG. 1, and is displayed as the procedure shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

First, in step S501, output processing is performed from the printer that specified the document. In addition,
The printer at this time may be a printer directly connected to the information processing apparatus that executes the document output processing or a printer connected to the network.

Next, in step S502, it is determined whether the history can be saved. This determination is made by previously determining the amount of memory that can be used for history storage or the number of history records that can be stored.

In other words, if it is the memory amount, it is determined whether or not there is a free memory space for newly storing the history. If it is the number of records in the history, it is determined whether the number of stored records has reached a predetermined number.

If it is determined in step S502 that the history can be saved, the process proceeds to step S505, and if it is determined that the history cannot be saved at present, step S503.
Go to.

Then, in step S503, it is confirmed whether or not the history is to be saved, and if it is determined that the history is not to be saved, the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S503 that the history is to be saved, the process proceeds to step S504, and the history is deleted from the already saved history group so that the history can be newly saved. To finish.

Even if the history is deleted automatically,
It may be deleted manually by the user.

That is, in the case of automatic execution, the oldest saved history is deleted from the saved histories.
In this case, when the memory is secured so that the data can be stored as described above, the history is deleted in the oldest order until the available storage space is secured. To secure the number of records, delete only the oldest one. When the user's manual deletion is performed, a user interface as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the CRT 9, and an unnecessary history is freely selected and deleted using the user interface.

Also in this case, when the memory is secured, the process shown in FIG.
When the history is selected in the user interface of, and OK is specified, it is determined whether or not sufficient free space is obtained. If the free space is not obtained, the screen of FIG. 6 is displayed again and the same processing is performed. Repeat.

When the history can be stored in this way, the process advances to step S505 to pick up the item for storing the set value as the print history information. Items to be saved as print history information are predetermined,
The printers have different functions, and even if there is a function of saving the print history information, the setting value of the function is a setting value peculiar to the manufacturer of the printer and may not be saved. In consideration of these things, the items which are predetermined and whose set values are general values are picked up. When the item for which the value is to be set can be picked up, in step S507, step S
The setting value set in the item picked up in 506 is saved as the print history information together with the date of printing and the name of the printer that has printed, and the process ends.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, which corresponds to the print processing procedure using the history. In addition,
S801 to S810 show each step.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for performing print processing from the history list displayed on the CRT 9 shown in FIG. 1, and is displayed as the procedure shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the setting status display screen displayed on the CRT 9 shown in FIG. 1, which is displayed in a timely manner as the procedure shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

First, in step S801, it is determined whether or not to print using history, and if it is determined to print using history, the process proceeds to step S803. If it is determined to print without history, , Step S802
Go to.

Then, in step S802, the user makes desired settings using a setting screen such as a driver, and proceeds to step S810 to perform printing. If the history is used, the process advances to step S803 to display the history list.

As shown in FIG. 8, the history list displays the list of saved histories by date and the setting contents of the selected history on the CRT 9. Confirmation is performed in this list display, and the process proceeds to step S804 to select a history.

Next, in step S805, the function of the printer used for printing is confirmed. In other words, check what kind of function items are stored in the history. Next, the process proceeds to step S806, and the function items to be set in the printer are picked up from the printer function and print history information confirmed in step S805.

That is, even if there is a function that is not stored in the printer to be printed and is stored in the print history information, or if all items are prepared as functions, the setting values set there are not general. It is possible that the setting value cannot be set, such as a value unique to the manufacturer, or there may be an item for which the value is not stored in the print history information in the first place.

Taking these into consideration, the items for which setting values can be set are picked up from the items stored in the print history information. After picking up, go to step S807,
The setting items and their values to be set for the printer to be printed are shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the CRT 9 as a setting status screen.

After confirming this display, in step S808, it is determined whether or not printing should be performed in this setting status. Without printing, the setting value is set again using the history or the setting value is manually set by the user. If it is determined to perform, the process returns to step S801 to repeat the process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S808 that printing should be performed in this setting status, step S80
9, the set value is set, and when the set value is set, the process proceeds to step S810, printing is performed, and the process ends.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to a history storage processing procedure. Note that S601 to S608 indicate each step.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen containing the items of functions that can be stored in the print history information displayed on the CRT 9 shown in FIG. 1, and the execution of the procedure shown in FIG. Is displayed in.

First, in step S601, output processing is performed from the printer that specified the document.

The printer at this time may be a printer directly connected to the information processing apparatus for executing the document output processing or a printer connected to the network.

Next, in step S602, it is determined whether the history can be saved. This determination is made by previously determining the amount of memory that can be used for history storage or the number of history records that can be stored. In other words, if it is the memory amount, it is determined whether or not there is a free memory capacity for newly storing the history. If it is the number of records in the history, it is determined whether the number of stored records has reached a predetermined number.

If it is determined in step S602 that the history can be saved, the process proceeds to step S605, and if it is determined that the history cannot be saved under the present circumstances, step S603.
Go to.

Then, in step S603, it is confirmed whether or not to save the history, and if it is determined that the history is not saved, the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S603 that the history is to be saved, the process proceeds to step S604, and the history is deleted from the already saved history group so that the history can be newly saved. Proceed to S605.

The history may be deleted automatically or manually by the user.
That is, in the case of automatic execution, the oldest saved history is deleted from the saved histories. In this case, if you want to reserve the memory so that you can save as above,
Delete history from oldest to newest until you have enough free space. To secure the number of records, delete only the oldest one. In the case of deleting manually by the user, unnecessary history is freely selected and deleted using a user interface as shown in FIG. Also in this case, when allocating the memory, the history is selected on the user interface shown in FIG. 6, and when the OK is designated, it is judged whether or not the sufficient free capacity is obtained, and the capacity is obtained. If it is determined that there is no such error, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed again and the same process is repeated.

When the history can be stored in this way, the flow advances to step S605 to pick up the function items that can be stored in the print history information. The print history information is prepared to store many items in advance,
The user independently decides which item among them the setting value is actually saved.

Therefore, it is determined what kind of function the printer to be printed actually has, and whether the set value to be set for that function can be stored in the item prepared in the print history information, and it is picked up.

Next, in step S606, the picked-up function items that can be stored in the print history information are displayed on the CRT 9 shown in FIG. 1 as the selection screen shown in FIG.

Next, in step S607, the user manually selects the item for actually setting the setting value from the displayed storable items, and when the selection is completed, the process proceeds to step S608. , The setting value of the selected item is saved as print history information, and the process ends.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, which corresponds to the print processing procedure using the history. Note that S701 to S706 indicate each step.

First, in step S701, it is determined whether or not the history is used for printing. If it is determined that the history is used, the process proceeds to step S703. If it is determined that the history is not used, the process proceeds to step S702.

Then, in step S702, the user sets a desired value using the setting screen of the driver or the like, and the process proceeds to step S706.

Then, in step S703, a list of history records stored as print history information is displayed. next,
In step S704, a history as a setting used for printing is selected from the history list.

Next, in step S705, step S
The user sets a desired value using a setting screen such as a driver based on the setting contents in the history selected in 704. And
The process proceeds to step S706, print processing is performed, and the processing ends.

According to the above-described embodiment, by saving the setting at the time of printing a plurality of times, it is possible to reproduce the printing result at each time even under different environments.

The configuration of the data processing program that can be read by the printing system to which the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applicable will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the printing system to which the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applicable.

Although not particularly shown, information for managing the program group stored in the storage medium, such as version information, creator information, etc., and information dependent on the OS and the like on the program reading side, such as the program, are stored. In some cases, an icon or the like for identification and display is also stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in a computer, or a program for decompressing the program to be installed when it is compressed may be stored.

FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. 10 in this embodiment,
The functions shown in FIG. 12 may be performed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. In that case, the present invention is applied even when the information group including the program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. It is a thing.

As described above, the storage medium recording the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP of the system or apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by U) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM or the like can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

[0087]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the twenty-second aspect, at the time of printing the print data, the print setting information set for the print data is stored in the storage device as the print history information, and the selection unit is provided every time a print request for new print data is made. By setting various function items that can be set based on the print history information set for any of the managed printers in the new print data and printing the selected printer, By using the history of the print setting information set for other printers, the same print settings can be automated for the printers that are candidates for printing print data, and anyone can easily change the print target printer. Even if it is done, there is an effect that it is possible to freely maintain a print processing environment in which a print result having the same print format as before can be obtained with good reproducibility.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a storage state of a history storage program and related data stored in the external storage device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a load processing method of a history storage program and related data stored in the external storage device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a memory map on a RAM shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

6 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for deleting the history list displayed on the CRT shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

8 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for performing print processing from a history list displayed on the CRT shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram showing an example of a setting status display screen displayed on the CRT shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

11 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen including items of functions that can be stored in the print history information displayed on the CRT shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applicable.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 5 KB 7 PRT 9 CRT 11 External storage device

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of outputting print data to a printer via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: selecting means for selecting a printer to which the print data is to be output; At the time of printing, a management unit that saves and manages print setting information set for the print data in a storage device as print history information; and a printer selected by the selection unit each time a new print data print request is made. On the other hand, a control unit that sets various function items that can be set based on the print history information set for any of the printers managed by the management unit to the new print data and prints the new print data. An information processing apparatus having: 2. The management unit stores and manages print conditions set by a user for the print data at the time of printing as print history information in a print information section secured in the storage device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The print history information includes a print condition, a print date and time, a printer name used for printing, and various printer function items that affect a print result set at the time of printing. 1. The information processing device according to 1. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein types of various function items of the printer stored as the print history information are predetermined. 5. The first pick-up means for picking up the same function matching the item from among the functions possessed by the printer to be printed, based on an item prepared in advance as a storage item of the print history. Second pick-up means for picking up an item having a set value whose set value can be utilized in the print history from among the functions picked up by the first pick-up means, and the second pick-up means for picking up the item. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the selected item in the storage device as print history information. 6. The first pick-up means for picking up the same function matching the item from among the functions possessed by the printer to be printed, based on an item prepared in advance as a print history storage item. Second pick-up means for picking up an item having a set value whose set value can be utilized in the print history from among the functions picked up by the first pick-up means, and the second pick-up means for picking up the item. Display control means for displaying a list of the selected items on a display device, instruction means for selecting and instructing an item to be saved from the items displayed by the display control means, and print history information for the items specified by the instruction means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the information in a storage device. 7. The management means determines whether the storage means is capable of storing the print history information in the storage device, and the management means determines that the storage means is not in the storage state. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a deleting unit that deletes any print history information stored in the storage device. 8. The determination means determines whether or not the storage capacity of the storage device or the number of history records to be stored is exceeded to determine whether the print history information can be stored in the storage device. 8. A judgment is made according to claim 7.
The information processing device described. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the deleting unit deletes an arbitrary number of print histories instructed to be deleted from the print history information stored in the storage device. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing condition includes imposition, the number of copies, and a frame. 11. A print control method in an information processing apparatus capable of outputting print data to a printer via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a selecting step of selecting a printer to which the print data is output. When the print data is printed, a management step of storing print management information set for the print data in a storage device as print history information and managing the print data, and a selection step for each print request of new print data. Control for causing the selected printer to print by setting various function items that can be set based on the print history information set for any of the printers managed in the management step in the new print data Steps,
A print control method comprising: 12. The management step is characterized in that the printing condition set by the user for the printing data at the time of printing is stored as printing history information in a printing information section secured in the storage device for management. The printing control method according to claim 11. 13. The print history information includes print conditions, date and time of printing, a printer name used for printing, and various function items of a printer that affect a print result set at the time of printing. 11. The print control method according to item 11. 14. The print control method according to claim 11, wherein types of various function items of the printer stored as the print history information are predetermined. 15. The first pick-up step of picking up the same function matching the item from among the functions of the printer to be printed, based on an item prepared in advance as a storage item of the print history. A second pick-up step of picking up an item having a set value whose set value can be utilized in the print history from the functions picked up by the first pick-up step, and picked up by the second pick-up step. A storage step of storing the selected item in the storage device as print history information.
The print control method described. 16. The management step comprises a first pickup step of picking up the same function matching the item from among the functions possessed by the printer to be printed, based on an item prepared in advance as a storage item of the print history. A second pick-up step of picking up an item having a set value whose set value can be utilized in the print history from the functions picked up by the first pick-up step, and picked up by the second pick-up step. A display control step of displaying a list of selected items on a display device, an instruction step of selecting and instructing an item to be saved from the items displayed in the list by the display control step, and a print history information of the item specified by the instruction step. And a saving step of saving in a storage device as The print control method according to claim 11, wherein. 17. The management step comprises: a judgment step of judging whether the printing history information is in a storable state in the storage device in the storing step; 17. The printing control method according to claim 15, further comprising: a deletion step of deleting any print history information stored in the storage device. 18. The judgment step judges whether or not the storage capacity of the storage device or the number of history records to be stored exceeds a limit to determine whether the print history information can be stored in the storage device. 18. The print control method according to claim 17, wherein the determination is made. 19. The print control method according to claim 17, wherein the deleting step deletes an arbitrary number of print histories instructed to be deleted from the print history information stored in the storage device. 20. The printing control method according to claim 13, wherein the printing condition includes imposition, the number of copies, and a frame. 21. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the print control method according to any one of claims 11 to 20. 22. A program that realizes the print control method according to any one of claims 11 to 20.