JP5705193B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus control method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and a program.

Currently, there is a function of performing printing and data transmission by operating document information stored in the HDD of the image forming apparatus with an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. Such a function is called a box function.
When printing using this function, use the operation unit 121 to set layout settings such as reduced layouts such as 2in1 and 4in1, and finishing settings such as stapling and punching according to the capabilities of the installed finisher. Can be specified.
However, the stapling position and punching position that can be set are limited depending on the ability of the finisher (post-processing apparatus) connected to the image forming apparatus. In particular, there are a plurality of types of finishers, and there are various restrictions depending on the ability, the paper size used, and the image orientation. Therefore, when the user performs print settings simply by selecting from the options such as the upper right, lower right, upper left, lower left, etc., depending on the set contents, a finishing process different from the user's intention may be performed or the finishing may be performed. In some cases, the treatment itself was not performed.
Also, there are print settings that dynamically change the orientation of the image to be printed depending on the number of images assigned to one sheet, such as a reduced layout, so the user should carefully consider the output result. Must be set.

In order to solve these problems, the following methods have been proposed.
First, in the first method, an image of a finished layout for each printing condition is stored in advance. This is an apparatus that reads an image of a finished layout corresponding to a printing condition designated by a user, and corrects the read finished layout according to a sheet designated by the user (for example, see Patent Document 1). .
In the second method, a preview image based on the document information is created and displayed according to the print settings, and the user is allowed to change predetermined items such as finishing settings within a range according to the print settings at that time. There is also a printing apparatus (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-227849 A JP 2006-11847 A

In addition to the techniques described above, in recent years, general-purpose files such as PDF format and XPS format have been handled.
However, when document information in a general-purpose file format such as PDF format or XPS format is stored in the HDD and then printing is performed, the image size and image orientation of the document to be printed are unknown. Therefore, with the above-described technique, it is not possible to determine the corresponding finished layout, and it is impossible to present the correct post-processing setting to the user.
The Portable Document Format (Portable Document Format, PDF) is a file format for electronic documents developed and proposed by Adobe Systems. The XML Paper Specification (XPS) format is a fixed-layout electronic file format that enables file sharing while maintaining the document format. Both are examples of general-purpose file formats.

For example, in the method proposed in Patent Document 1, since the image size and image orientation of a document to be printed are known in advance, the finished layout corresponding to the designated printing condition can be determined. Therefore, the finished image could be presented to the user. The method proposed in Patent Document 2 also creates a preview image, so that it is possible to determine the image size and image orientation of a document to be printed.
However, none of them is a preview for document information in a general-purpose file format. In addition, since the preview image is re-created after the user instructs to change the print setting, the performance and usability of the print setting change are degraded.
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that enables easy and appropriate setting of a binding position for document information in a format in which the orientation of a page image cannot be determined unless analyzed .

The image forming apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.
A post-processing unit that executes a binding process on a sheet, a storage unit that stores a binding position at which the binding process by the post-processing unit can be performed in association with a sheet size and an image orientation, and a page image that is not analyzed Based on the holding means for holding document information in a format in which the orientation cannot be determined, the analyzing means for analyzing the document information held in the holding means, the receiving means for receiving print settings, and the print settings received by the receiving means Te, and it determines the size of the sheet used for the printing, and determining means for determining the orientation of the image printed on the sheet based on a result of analysis of the document information by the analyzing means, stored in said storage means information and, based on the orientation of the size and image of the sheet determined by the determination means, it can perform the binding processing on the sheet Identify binding position, an operation screen for accepting the setting of the binding position from the user, characterized in that it comprises a display control unit to which the specified binding position is displayed on the display unit in a settable state, the.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and appropriately set a binding position for document information in a format in which the orientation of a page image cannot be determined unless analyzed .

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an engine configuration of the MFP. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a data processing procedure of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the image data management table managed by HDD. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a data processing procedure of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the information regarding the capability of the finisher part 126. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the image image produced | generated by the image forming apparatus. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a data processing procedure of the image forming apparatus. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface of the image forming apparatus. FIG.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an example of an image forming apparatus having a function of holding and managing a print job received via a network, and is configured by, for example, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 100.
In FIG. 1, a CPU 101 comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to a system bus 107 according to a control program stored in a ROM 103 or an HDD 104. In addition, the CPU 101 comprehensively controls various processes performed in the controller 125.

The RAM 102 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 101 and also a memory for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 103 stores a boot program for the apparatus.
An HDD (hard disk drive) 104 (holding unit) can store system software, image data, and document files in a general-purpose file format such as PDF format or XPS format. The operation unit I / F 105 is an interface unit for connecting the system bus 107 and the operation unit 121. The operation unit I / F 105 receives image data to be displayed on the operation unit 121 (which also functions as a display unit) from the system bus 107 to the operation unit 121 and receives information received via the operation unit 121. Output to the system bus 107.

A network I / F 106 is connected to the LAN, WAN 124, and system bus 107, and exchanges data with other devices in both directions.
An image bus 120, which is a transmission path for exchanging image data, is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The scanner image processing unit 112 corrects, processes, and edits image data received from the scanner unit 122 via the scanner I / F 111. The embedded information extraction unit 110 performs processing for detecting a pattern embedded in the background image and extracting additional information from the image data.
The compression unit 113 receives the image data and compresses the data. The decompression unit 115 decompresses the data, raster develops it, and sends it to the printer image processing unit 117. The printer image processing unit 117 receives the image data sent from the decompression unit 115 and performs image processing on the image data while referring to attribute data attached to the image data.

When there is an instruction, the code image data generated by the code image generation unit 116 is combined with the image data. The code image generation unit 116 generates code image data such as a two-dimensional code image, a bar code image, and an image generated by an information embedding technique. Note that the code image is generated by executing a program stored in the RAM 102. The image data after image processing is output to the printer unit 123 via the printer I / F 118.
The image conversion unit 114 performs predetermined conversion processing such as rotation, color space conversion, binary multi-value conversion, image composition, and thinning on the image data.
The RIP unit 108 receives the intermediate data generated based on the PDL code data, and generates bitmap data (multivalue). The generated bitmap data is compressed by the compression unit 109 and sent to the image bus 120. The authentication processing unit 119 performs print job authentication in addition to user and workgroup authentication using the user information input from the operation unit 121. It also manages authenticated user and workgroup information.
The finisher unit 126 can be connected to an image forming apparatus, and performs various post-processing such as stapling, punching, and sorting on a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets discharged from the printer unit 123 are bundled.

<Configuration of printer unit and scanner unit>
2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an engine configuration of MFP 100 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, the MFP 100 includes a scanner unit 122, a printer unit 123, a finisher unit 126, and an operation unit 121. Here, the scanner unit 122 and printer unit 12 3 is constructed integrally. The finisher unit 126 is configured to be detachable from the printer unit 123.
The document feeder 201 is mounted on the scanner unit 122. The document feeder 201 feeds documents set upward on the document tray one sheet at a time in order from the first page, and conveys them to a predetermined position on the platen glass 202 through a curved path.

The document conveyed to a predetermined position on the platen glass 202 is scanned from the left to the right by the scanner unit 203, and an image on the document is read. When the scanner unit 203 scans the document, the reading surface of the document is irradiated with the lamp light of the scanner unit 203, and the reflected light from the document is guided to the lens through the mirror.
The light that has passed through this lens is formed as an optical image on the imaging surface of the image sensor 204. This optical image is converted into image data by the image sensor 204 and output. Image data output from the image sensor 204 is subjected to predetermined processing in the scanner image processing unit 112 and then input as a video signal to the exposure control unit 205 of the printer unit 123.

Next, a case where image formation is performed on one side of a sheet will be described.
The exposure control unit 205 of the printer unit 123 modulates and outputs a laser beam based on the input video signal, and the laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 206 while being scanned by a polygon mirror (not shown). An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 206.
The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 206 is visualized as a developer image by the developer supplied from the developing device 207. Sheets are fed from the cassettes 208 and 209 or the manual paper feed tray 210.
The fed sheet is transported between the photosensitive drum 206 and the transfer unit 212 at a timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation after the leading edge of the sheet is abutted against the registration roller 211 and stopped. . Here, the leading edge of the fed sheet is abutted against the registration roller 211 and the sheet is temporarily stopped, whereby the skew of the sheet is corrected.

Next, the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 206 is transferred onto the fed sheet by the transfer unit 212. The sheet on which the developer image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 213.
The fixing unit 213 fixes the developer image on the sheet by heat-pressing the sheet. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 213 is conveyed toward the flapper 215 by the conveyance roller 214, and is conveyed toward the discharge roller 216 by the flapper 215. Then, the sheet is discharged from the printer unit 123 to the finisher unit 126 via the discharge roller 216. At this time, the sheet is discharged face up.

In addition, the sheet can be discharged to the finisher unit 126 in a face-down state. When this face-down discharge is performed, the flapper 215 is switched so as to guide the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 213 to the reverse conveyance path 217, and the sheet passes through the flapper 215 and is conveyed by the respective conveyance rollers 218 and 219 to the reverse conveyance path. It is conveyed into 217.
The sheet conveyed to the reversal conveyance path 217 is switched back, whereby the front and back of the sheet are reversed. Then, the sheet whose front and back sides are reversed is discharged from the printer unit 123 to the finisher unit 126 via the discharge roller 216.

The finisher unit 126 includes a first punch unit 220 and a staple stacker unit 221, and various post-processing such as stapling, punching, and sorting are performed on a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are bundled using the first punch unit 220. It can be performed.
The first punch unit 220 is a unit for performing multi-hole punch processing. The first punch unit 220 includes an entrance conveyance roller 222 for receiving the sheet discharged from the printer unit 123 into the first punch unit 220.
The sheet conveyed into the first punch unit 220 is conveyed toward the discharge roller 224 or toward the conveyance roller 225 according to the switching operation of the flapper 223.

Here, the case where the sheet is conveyed toward the discharge roller 224 by the flapper 223 is a case where the sheet passes through the first punch unit 220 and is directly conveyed to the staple stacker unit 221. Further, when the sheet is conveyed toward the conveying roller 225 by the flapper 223, the multi-hole punching process is performed on the sheet.
On the downstream side of the conveyance roller 225, a conveyance roller 226, a sensor 227, a punch unit 228, and an abutting plate 229 are provided. The sensor 227 is a sensor for detecting the leading edge of the sheet.
The punch unit 228 performs a multi-hole punching process in which a large number of holes, for example, thirty holes, are formed at the leading end of the sheet (a portion that is the leading end in the sheet conveyance direction). The abutting plate 229 is normally in a position to open the sheet conveyance path. The abutting plate 229 is rotated at an angle of π / 2 (rad) at a predetermined timing, and protrudes on the sheet conveyance path so as to be able to abut against the leading edge of the sheet.

By abutting the leading end of the sheet against the abutting plate 229, the sheet can be positioned with a predetermined accuracy with respect to the punch portion 228.
Conveying rollers 230 to 233 are provided on the downstream side of the abutting plate 229, and a conveying path for guiding the sheet to the discharge roller 224 is formed by the conveying rollers 230 to 233.
The staple stacker unit 221 has an entrance roller 234 for receiving the sheet discharged from the first punch unit 220 into the unit. The sheet conveyed into the staple stacker unit 221 through the entrance roller 234 is guided to the second punch unit 235.

The second punch unit 235 opens a small number of holes, for example, 2 to 4 holes, at the rear end of the sheet (the rear end with respect to the sheet conveyance direction) when the minority hole punching process is set. Performs a small number of holes punch process. Further, the second punch unit 235 operates so as to let the sheet pass through and be conveyed downstream when the minority hole punching processing is not set.
In the second punch unit 235, a sensor 236 for detecting the trailing edge of the sheet and an abutting plate 237 against which the trailing edge of the sheet is abutted are provided.
When the second punch unit 235 performs the minority hole punching process, the conveying roller in the second punch unit 235 is reversed at a predetermined timing after the sensor 236 detects the trailing edge of the sheet.

Further, the abutting plate 237 is rotated at an angle of π / 2 (rad) and protrudes on the conveyance path. Then, the sheet is switched back toward the abutting plate 237 and stopped in a state where the rear end of the sheet is abutted against the abutting plate 237. In this manner, a small number of holes are made in the rear end of the sheet with the sheet positioned with respect to the rear end. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed toward the flapper 238 by the conveyance roller.
The flapper 238 performs a switching operation so as to guide the sheet to the non-sort path 239 or the conveyance roller 240. Here, when post-processing such as sorting, punching, and stapling is not set and the sheet is discharged as it is, the flapper 238 guides the sheet to the non-sorting path 239.

The sheet guided to the non-sort path 239 is discharged to the stack tray 242 by the conveyance roller 241. When post-processing such as sorting or stapling is set for the sheet, the printer unit 123 discharges the sheet to the finisher unit 126 in a face-down state.
The sheet conveyed into the finisher unit 126 is conveyed to the staple stacker unit 221 through the first punch unit 220 and then guided to the conveyance roller 240 by the flapper 238. Next, the sheet is discharged onto the bundle discharge belt 243 by the conveyance roller 240.
Here, a low friction intermediate processing tray (not shown) is provided at a position several millimeters higher in parallel with the bundle discharge belt 243, and the sheet is actually discharged onto the intermediate processing tray. The discharged sheet falls in the lower right direction under its own weight along the intermediate processing tray (bundle discharge belt 243).

Further, the fan-shaped return roller 244 rotates counterclockwise, and the friction member provided on the outer edge thereof contacts the sheet. Due to the abutment of the friction member, a force for dropping in the lower right direction acts on the sheet, and the end of the sheet is abutted against the stopper plate 245. Thereby, alignment in the vertical direction (feed direction) is performed on the sheet.
In addition, on the intermediate processing tray, alignment plates 246 located on the near side and the far side are provided. Each alignment plate 246 is driven each time a sheet is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray. As a result, the sheets on the intermediate processing tray are aligned in the horizontal direction (width direction).

When a predetermined number of sheets are discharged and stacked on the intermediate processing tray, the bundle discharge belt 243 is driven, and the sheets are discharged onto the stack tray 242 or 247.
When the stapling mode is set, a bundle of sheets for stapling is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray, and the alignment plate 246 aligns the sheets in the horizontal direction.
Thereafter, the staple unit 248 is driven to bind the sheet bundle, and the bound sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 242 or 247 by the bundle discharge belt 243. Here, each stack tray 242 and 247 is configured to be able to move up and down. Each of the stack trays 242 and 247 is provided with sensors 250 and 249 for detecting the presence or absence of sheets.
Further, the staple unit 248 can perform “corner binding” for binding the back side position of the sheet rear end and “double binding” for binding the sheet rear end in two places. The binding position for the sheet is set by the user.
The image forming apparatus may be a color image forming apparatus or a monochrome image forming apparatus. In addition, although an electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described here, an inkjet image forming apparatus may be used.

<Thumbnail image generation processing procedure>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an example of processing for generating an output image generation image (hereinafter referred to as a thumbnail image) in the MFP 100. S301 to S307 indicate steps, and each step is realized by the CPU 101 loading and executing a control program in the RAM 102.
First, in step S <b> 301, the CPU 101 confirms the state of document information (document) stored in the HDD 104. If the CPU 101 determines that there is no change in the document information in the HDD 104, the process is repeated until a change in the state of the document information is detected.
On the other hand, when a change in the state of the document information is detected in S301, the CPU 101 determines in S302 whether the document information is stored or deleted.
If the CPU 101 determines that the change in the state of the document information is due to the storage of new document information, in step S303, the CPU 101 acquires the document information stored in the HDD 104 and uses the acquired document information. An image generation request is sent to the printer image processing unit 117.

In step S <b> 304, the printer image processing unit 117 generates a thumbnail image of the document information acquired by the CPU 101 from the HDD 104 on the RAM 102. Specifically, the printer image processing unit 117 interprets the acquired document information by an interpreter (not shown), and rasterizes on the RAM 102 to generate a thumbnail image.
At this time, the interpreter analyzes the page header and the file header, and the printer image processing unit 117 can acquire page information including the number of pages included in the document information, the page size of the image, the image orientation, and the paper size.

When the generation of the thumbnail image is completed in this way, the CPU 101 acquires the thumbnail image information and page information of the document information from the printer image processing unit 117 in S305. Then, the CPU 101 registers the thumbnail image information generated in the image data management table 400 shown in FIG. 4 and ends this processing.
On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines that the change in the state of the document information is due to the deletion of the document information in S302, the CPU 101 acquires the deleted document information from the HDD 104 in S306. In step S307, the CPU 101 deletes the thumbnail image and the image information registered in the image data management table 400, and ends this process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image data management table managed by the HDD 104 shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, image data stored in or deleted from the HDD 104 is managed based on the ID 401, the storage destination 402, the file name 403, and the image information 404. The image information 404 is further managed by a thumbnail image ID 405, a page number 406, a page size 407, and an image orientation 408.

<Output image generation processing procedure>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an output image generation process example using thumbnail image information in the multifunction peripheral 100. S901 to S904 indicate each step, and each step is realized by the CPU 101 loading the control program to the RAM 102 and executing it.
First, in step S901, the CPU 101 refers to the image data management table 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 and acquires image information and thumbnail image information corresponding to document information for generating an output image from the storage destination.
In step S <b> 902, the CPU 101 reflects the print settings designated by the user on the acquired thumbnail image, and generates an output image on the RAM 102. In step S <b> 903, the CPU 101 acquires information related to the capability of the finisher unit 126 attached to the multifunction peripheral 100.

In this embodiment, the staple unit 248 included in the finisher unit 126 performs “corner binding” that binds the back side position or the near side position of the sheet rear end as described above, and “double binding” that binds the sheet rear end at two locations. Is possible. FIG. 6 shows an example of the paper size and possible binding positions of “corner binding” and “double binding” as information related to the ability of the finisher unit 126.
In step S <b> 904, the CPU 101 determines a stapling position that can be set based on the output image generated in step S <b> 902 and information related to the capability of the finisher unit 126 acquired in step S <b> 903, and ends the process.
Here, FIG. 7 shows an example of the image image generated by the thumbnail image information and document information acquired in S903 and the designated print settings.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image image generated by the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. This example is an example composed of designated document information, print settings, and an output image.
In this embodiment, since the output paper size and image orientation of the output image are determined by the document information and print settings shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 101 can set the stapling position that can be set based on the information related to the finisher ability shown in FIG. Can be determined.

<Printed document print procedure>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an example of print setting processing for a document stored in the HDD 104 in the multifunction peripheral 100. S501 to S511 indicate steps, and each step is realized by the CPU 101 loading and executing a control program in the RAM 102.

First, in step S501, when the CPU 101 receives a document list display request input by the user using the operation unit 121 via the operation unit I / F 105, in step S502, the CPU 101 operates the stored document list illustrated in FIG. Displayed on the unit 121.
Next, in step S503, when the CPU 101 receives a print function request input by the user using the operation unit 121 via the operation unit I / F 105, in step S504, the CPU 101 causes the operation unit 121 to display (B) in FIG. The print setting screen shown in Fig. 1 is displayed, and it waits to receive the next request. Note that the user can confirm the screen shown in FIG. 9B and make print function settings and print requests such as layout settings such as the number of copies, double-sided, and reduced layout.

In step S <b> 505, the CPU 101 receives a request input by the user using the operation unit 121 via the operation unit I / F 105, and determines whether the received request is a print request or a print setting change request. To do. If the CPU 101 determines that a print request has been received from the user, the processing from S511 is performed.
On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines in S505 that a print setting change request has been received from the user, the CPU 101 further determines in S506 whether the received print setting change request is a staple setting change. If the CPU 101 determines that the stapling setting is not changed, the processing from S510 is performed.

On the other hand, when the CPU 101 determines that the staple setting is changed in S506, the CPU 101 acquires the set print setting information in S507. In step S <b> 508, the CPU 101 refers to information related to the finisher capability illustrated in FIG. 6, and performs processing for determining whether setting based on the acquired print setting information is possible. To get.
In step S509, the CPU 101 displays the acquired settable stapling position on the stapling setting screen illustrated in FIG.
In the staple setting screen shown in FIG. 9C, for example, when the following print setting is set for the A4 portrait document, the output image is determined as A3 landscape as shown in FIG.
Here, it is assumed that the print setting is 2 in 1 for the reduced layout and the output paper size is A3. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the staple unit 248 included in the finisher unit 126 has a limited stapling position that can be set for A3 landscape. Specifically, the staple position is limited to two places on the short side of the output paper.

Therefore, a stapling setting screen as shown in FIG. 9C is displayed as a display screen that can specify only the settable positions. At this time, the preview image is displayed together with the image to be printed, which has been developed and registered in advance as a PDF file or XPS file.
In step S <b> 510, the CPU 101 receives a request using the operation unit 121 by the user via the operation unit I / F 105, changes print settings based on the request, and returns to step S <b> 504.
On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines in S505 that the print request has been received, in S511, the CPU 101 issues a print start request to the printer unit 123 via the printer I / F 118, and the process ends. Upon receiving the print start request, the printer unit 123 starts printing according to the designated print setting.
According to the present embodiment, since it is possible to determine whether setting is possible using a thumbnail image generated in advance during document storage processing, it is possible to prevent the user from making a setting that cannot be performed due to the ability of the finisher.

Further, since the output image image reflecting the print setting can be displayed together with the image to be actually printed, the user can visually confirm the print setting. Further, since the process of generating the preview image is not executed when the print setting is changed, the output image can be displayed at high speed, and the setting change by the user can be immediately reflected in the output image.
Each process of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media by a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. The present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading the storage medium storing the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.
Although various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will not limit the spirit and scope of the present invention to the specific description in the present specification.

100 MFP 122 Scanner unit 123 Printer unit 121 Operation unit 126 Finisher unit 248 Staple unit

Claims (6)

Post-processing means for executing binding processing on the sheet;
Storage means for storing a binding position where the binding processing by the post-processing means can be executed in association with a sheet size and an image orientation;
Holding means for holding document information in a format in which the orientation of the page image cannot be determined without analysis;
Analyzing means for analyzing document information held in the holding means;
Receiving means for receiving print settings;
Determined on the basis of the print setting received by the receiving means, and determines the size of the sheet used for the printing, to determine the orientation of the image printed on the sheet based on a result of analysis of the document information by the analyzing means Means,
User information stored in said storage means, based on the orientation of the size and image of the sheet determined by the determination means, to identify the executable binding position the stapling process for the sheet, a setting of the binding position Display control means for displaying an operation screen for receiving from the display unit in a state where the specified binding position can be set ;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Further comprising generating means for generating an image based on the document information;
The display means, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the image generated by the generating means to the operation screen. It said analysis means, in response to receiving the document information, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that analyzing the document information. The document information format, the image forming apparatus according to item 1 to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a PDF or XPS format. A post-processing step of performing a binding process on the sheet;
A storage step of storing a binding position where the binding process in the post-processing step can be performed in association with a sheet size and an image orientation ;
A holding step for holding document information in a format in which the orientation of the page image cannot be determined without analysis;
An analysis step of analyzing the document information held in said holding step,
A reception process for receiving print settings;
Determining based on said receiving step in the accepted print setting, and determines the size of the sheet used for the printing, to determine the orientation of the image printed on the sheet based on a result of analysis of the document information in said analyzing step Process,
User information said stored by the storage step, based on the orientation of the size and image of the sheet determined by the determination step, to identify the executable binding position the stapling process for the sheet, a setting of the binding position A display control step of displaying an operation screen for receiving from the display unit in a state where the specified binding position can be set ;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising: A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 5 .

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