GB2356723A - Selecting default printer driver settings - Google Patents

Selecting default printer driver settings Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2356723A
GB2356723A GB0028125A GB0028125A GB2356723A GB 2356723 A GB2356723 A GB 2356723A GB 0028125 A GB0028125 A GB 0028125A GB 0028125 A GB0028125 A GB 0028125A GB 2356723 A GB2356723 A GB 2356723A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
printer driver
driver settings
printing application
settings
selected printing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0028125A
Other versions
GB0028125D0 (en
GB2356723B (en
Inventor
Kian Hoe Kang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HP Inc
Original Assignee
Hewlett Packard Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Co filed Critical Hewlett Packard Co
Publication of GB0028125D0 publication Critical patent/GB0028125D0/en
Publication of GB2356723A publication Critical patent/GB2356723A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2356723B publication Critical patent/GB2356723B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G06F3/1204—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G06F3/1205—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1237—Print job management
    • G06F3/1253—Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
    • G06F3/1254—Automatic configuration, e.g. by driver
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1237—Print job management
    • G06F3/1253—Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
    • G06F3/1257—Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
    • G06F3/1284—Local printer device

Description

2356723 METHOD OF SELECTING DEFAULT PRINTER DRWER SETTINGS This invention
relates to a technique enabling a computer to define a set of default printer driver settings for each printing application.
Currently, the Microsoft Windows operating system, a product of the Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, allows a computer to define one set of default printer driver settings for each printer. If the defined set of default printer driver settings is not suitable for a particular printing application, however, the user needs to access the printer driver dialog box to modify the default printer driver settings. Most often, the user expects different print output for different printing applications. For example, the user may want to print his document on an A4 paper when printing in an MS-Word environment, but he may want to print on a letter size transparency when printing in a Power Point environment. Traditionally, the user has to go to "printer properties sheet" of the printing application to change "paper size", one characteristic in the printer driver settings, when he is in the environment of a printing application for which current default printer driver settings are not suitable.
Most printer manufacturers allow users to save another set of printer driver settings. Nevertheless, there is still only one set of default printer driver settings. Whenever a different set of printer driver settings is desired for a particular printing application, the user still needs to get to the printer driver dialog box to choose the previously saved set of printer driver settings. The step that the user gets to the printer driver dialog box to change the default printer driver settings for a particular printing application unnecessarily degrades the productivity of the user.
The present invention seeks to provide a computer with a set of default printer driver settings for each particular printing application.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of enabling a computer to define a set of default printer driver settings for a selected printing application, wherein each set of printer driver settings is provided with a label representing a particular printing application, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining at least one characteristic of the selected printing application; searching stored sets of printer driver settings for one set whose label conforms to the 2 characteristic of the selected printing application; and defining a conforming set of printer driver settings as the default printer driver settings for the selected printing application if a conforming set has been found.
In a preferred embodiment of a method for defining a set of default printer driver settings for a selected printing application, a computer stores sets of printer driver settings in advance. Each set of printer driver settings is attached with a label representing a particular printing application. When a user activates a printing application, the computer searches the saved sets of printer driver settings according to a characteristic such as filename of the printing application. If there is a set of printer driver settings whose label conforms to the characteristic of the printing application, the saved conforming set of printer driver settings will be retrieved and used as current default printer driver settings for the printing application.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. I is a block diagram schematically showing a preferred embodiment of printing system; and FIG. 2 illustrates a printer driver dialog box through which printer driver settings can be edited.
As shown in FIG. 1, a computer system 10 for practising a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a central processing unit (CPU) 12 for processing printing applications, a memory unit 14 storing necessary data and programs, and a printer driver 16. The memory unit 14 also stores sets of printer driver settings, each of which is associated with a particular printing application. The CPU 12 processing printing applications gets an appropriate set of printer driver settings from the memory unit 14 and passes it to the printer driver 16 alone with print data. The printer driver 16, which is connected to a printer 20, sends print data to the printer 20 for printing according to the selected printer driver settings.
Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment is described in the Microsoft Windows environment. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to other operating systems, such as Windows NT, DOS, and Unix.
3 Initially, a user (not shown) invokes a printing application by telling the CPU 12 to load the printing application. Upon receiving this request, the CPU 12 loads the printing application.)"en a print action is to be performed, the printing application asks the printer driver 16 of the default printer for a copy of default printer driver settings so as to facilitate the formatting of the document for printing. The printer driver 16 will check whether a copy of the default printer driver settings is needed or not. If a set of default printer settings is needed, the printer driver 14 will then search the memory unit 14 for a set of printer driver settings with a label that conforms to a characteristic, such as the filename, of the printing application. The filename of the printing application can be obtained by using standard Windows API (Application Programmer's Interface) calls, i.e. GetCurrentTask, TaskFindHandle, and GetModuleFileName. If a matching set of printer driver settings is found in the memory unit 14, the printer driver 16 passes on this set of printer driver settings to the CPU 12. The CPU 12 further passes it back to the printing application. If a matching set has not been found, users may create a new set of printer driver settings according to the requirements of the printing application. Once the set of printer driver settings requested by the printing application is obtained, the printing application sends the print data to the CPU 12 along with the selected printer driver settings. The CPU 12 in turn passes them to the printer driver 16 from which the print data goes to the printer 20 for printing.
Take printing applications of MS-Word and Power Point for example, both of which are products of Microsoft Corporation. The user may tend to print his documents on an "A4 paper, two-side printing, medium print quality, and two copies each" when the printing application is MS-Word; while on a "letter size transparency, one-side, and best print quality" when the printing application is Power Point. In the preferred embodiment, two sets of printer driver settings have been pre-created and stored in the memory unit, corresponding to either requirement respectively. Moreover, a label representing a particular printing application is attached to either set of printer driver settings. For example, a label of "WINWORD" attached to the set of printer driver settings of "M paper, two-side printing, medium print quality, and two copies each" represents that this set is associated with the printing application of MS- 4 Word. Similarly, a label of "POWERPNT" attached to the set of printer driver settings of "letter size transparency, one-side, and best print quality" represents that this one is associated with the printing application of Power Point. When a user prints from the application MS-Word, the filename of the printing application (WINWORD) will be first obtained by the CPU and be used to search the memory unit for a matching set of printer driver settings. Since the label "WINWORD" matches the filename of the printing application, the set of printer driver settings of "A4 paper, two-side printing, medium print quality, and two copies each" will be retrieved as the current default printer driver settings for printing the document. When the user prints from the printing application Power Point, however, the filename of the printing application Power Point (POWERPNT) will be first obtained by the CPU and be used to search the memory and for a matching setting to print.
Users may create or modify a set of printer driver settings through a printer driver dialog box as shown in FIG. 2. Whenever a set of printer driver settings needs to be modified or there is no suitable set of printer driver settings for current printing application, a printer driver dialog box will be displayed on the screen (not shown) of the computer 10. Then users may edit the printer driver settings, such as paper size, paper type, paper source, orientation, and copies. After making all necessary changes to the printer driver settings, the user clicks the "Use With This Application" button to associate this set of printer driver settings with the printing application. Thereby, a label the same as the filename of the printing application is attached to this set of printer driver settings. A new set of printer driver settings is thus created.
The disclosures in United States patent application number 09/451,198, from which this application claims priority, and in the abstract accompanying this application are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (10)

1. A method of enabling a computer to define a set of default printer driver settings for a selected printing application, wherein each set of printer driver settings is provided with a label representing a particular printing application, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining at least one characteristic of the selected printing application; searching stored sets of printer driver settings for one set whose label conforms to the characteristic of the selected printing application; and defining a conforming set of printer driver settings as the default printer driver settings for the selected printing application if a conforming set has been found.
2. A method as in claim 1, comprising the steps ofcreating a new set of printer driver settings for the selected printing application if the conforming set has not been found; and defining the created new set of printer driver settings as the default printer driver settings for the selected printing application.
3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the computer associates the created new set of printer driver settings with the selected printing application.
4. A method as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the step of defining the default printer settings includes the step of editing the conforming set of printer driver settings according to requirements of the selected printing application.
5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the conforming set of printer driver settings is modified through a printer driver dialog box displayed by the computer.
6. A method as in claim 4 or 5, wherein the computer associates the edited set of printer driver settings with the selected printing application.
6
7. A method as in any preceding claim, wherein the label of each stored set of printer driver settings is the same as a filename of the particular printing application that the label represents, this stored set of printer driver settings thereby being associated with the particular printing application.
8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the filename of the selected printing application is used as the characteristic for searching for the default printer driver settings.
9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the filename of the selected printing application is obtained by using standard application programmer's interface calls.
10. A method of providing default printer driver settings substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB0028125A 1999-11-29 2000-11-17 Method of selecting default printer driver settings Expired - Fee Related GB2356723B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US45119899A 1999-11-29 1999-11-29

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GB2356723A true GB2356723A (en) 2001-05-30
GB2356723B GB2356723B (en) 2003-12-03

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100397328C (en) * 2005-03-30 2008-06-25 兄弟工业株式会社 Display technique for displaying default printer information of a print network system
US8237952B2 (en) * 2004-06-18 2012-08-07 Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. Method of setting default printer in a host device
US20220164149A1 (en) * 2018-06-29 2022-05-26 PrinterLogic, Inc. Printer driver profiles

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990012359A1 (en) * 1989-04-10 1990-10-18 Eastman Kodak Company Communications interface for computer output printer
US4979107A (en) * 1985-02-21 1990-12-18 International Business Machines Corporation Modification of device configuration wherein the system specifies and prompts the user with only parameters required to be changed
WO1994015300A1 (en) * 1992-12-18 1994-07-07 Dataproducts Corporation Virtual printer
US5638497A (en) * 1992-12-18 1997-06-10 Dataproducts Corporation Virtual printer

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4979107A (en) * 1985-02-21 1990-12-18 International Business Machines Corporation Modification of device configuration wherein the system specifies and prompts the user with only parameters required to be changed
WO1990012359A1 (en) * 1989-04-10 1990-10-18 Eastman Kodak Company Communications interface for computer output printer
WO1994015300A1 (en) * 1992-12-18 1994-07-07 Dataproducts Corporation Virtual printer
US5638497A (en) * 1992-12-18 1997-06-10 Dataproducts Corporation Virtual printer

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8237952B2 (en) * 2004-06-18 2012-08-07 Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. Method of setting default printer in a host device
CN100397328C (en) * 2005-03-30 2008-06-25 兄弟工业株式会社 Display technique for displaying default printer information of a print network system
US20220164149A1 (en) * 2018-06-29 2022-05-26 PrinterLogic, Inc. Printer driver profiles
US11720304B2 (en) * 2018-06-29 2023-08-08 PrinterLogic, Inc. Printer driver profiles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0028125D0 (en) 2001-01-03
GB2356723B (en) 2003-12-03

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20131117