JP2000020271A - Printer controller, printer system, print control method, printer driver, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer controller which can register an output format by using as a key a character string itself outputted as a watermark. SOLUTION: In the printer driver, a plotting information recording part 2103 receives print setting data from a user interface part 2101 and plotting data for every object from a graphics module 2001 respectively, records them in an intermediate file 2104 and stores on a hard disk 1006. An image data generation part 2105 reads the print setting data out of the intermediate file 2104 stored on the hard disk 1006, performs an initializing process and then receives the plotting data to generate image recording data to be transferred to a printer 1013 and which in handed to a print queue control part 2003. A watermark setting/registrating part 2112 in the user interface part 2101 processes user's setting operation regarding the watermark.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer control device, a printer system, a print control method, a printer driver, and a storage medium for printing a mark selected by a user by superimposing them in a predetermined output format.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, when a mark in which a character string such as "confidential" or "circulation" is given to a document, a stamp has been used. In addition, when an image created by an application running on a host computer such as a personal computer is printed by a printer, a function of adding a stamp mark or a watermark to a printer driver has been introduced to add such a mark. I was

Here, the printer driver is software that receives a drawing instruction from an application via a graphics module of an operating system (OS) and generates image recording data unique to an output destination printer according to the instruction. .

[0004] Since this printer driver is unique to the OS and does not depend on individual applications, a common mark is superimposed on an image created by an arbitrary application without modifying an existing application. It is possible to output.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional printer driver has the following problems, and improvement thereof has been demanded. That is, the printer driver creates a mark image to be subjected to overlay printing by an application in advance, records the mark image in a file, or selects a mark image prepared in advance with the printer driver, and then outputs the mark image. , Size, color and the like, and superimpose.

Therefore, in order for a user to create a new mark with a printer driver, a mark creation operation by an application is required separately from the printing process, which is complicated.

The options displayed when the user selects a mark are a mark image file name and an arbitrary name associated with the mark, and can be associated with the output mark. , Not the string itself. For this reason, it was difficult for the user to understand what kind of mark was printed.

Further, since the output format of the mark cannot be registered for each individual mark at any time, in order to print the mark in a different output format, a resetting operation is required every time the printing process is performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve these problems. A character string output as a watermark itself is registered as a key and its output format is registered.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer control device, a printer system, a print control method, a printer driver, and a storage medium having a user interface capable of selecting a mark registered using a character string to be output as a key together with an output format. Aim.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer control apparatus for superposing a mark on image data and transmitting the mark to a printer. Registering means for registering a mark in association with an output format, mark selecting means for selecting at least one mark from the registered marks, and image synthesizing means for superimposing the selected mark on the image data. It is characterized by having.

[0011] In the printer control device according to the second aspect,
2. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the mark is obtained by modifying a character string.

[0012] In the printer control device according to the third aspect,
2. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the mark registration unit performs registration of the mark and registration of an output format associated with the mark by a user input operation.

[0013] In the printer control device according to the fourth aspect,
3. The printer control device according to claim 2, wherein the mark registration unit registers the character string in association with the output format, and the mark selection unit displays the character string as an option selected by a user. The image synthesizing unit superimposes a mark corresponding to the character string selected by the mark selecting unit and an output format associated with the character string on the image data.

[0014] In the printer control device according to the fifth aspect,
3. The printer control device according to claim 2, wherein the output format associated with the mark includes a character decoration format, a font, a font size, an output color of the character string, an output position of the character string on paper, and It is characterized by including at least one of the rotation angles of the character string on paper.

[0015] In the printer control device according to the sixth aspect,
5. The printer control device according to claim 4, wherein the image synthesizing unit does not superimpose the mark on the image data when a predetermined character string preset by the mark selecting unit is selected by a user. And

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printer control apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising an invalid setting unit for invalidating the image synthesizing unit according to a user's specification.

A printer system according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention includes a printer and a printer control device. The printer control device superimposes a mark on image data and transmits the image data to the printer, and the printer has the mark superimposed on the image data. In a printer system for printing image data, the printer control device includes a mark registration unit that registers the mark in association with an output format, a mark selection unit that selects at least one mark from the registered marks, Image synthesizing means for superimposing the selected mark on the image data.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method in which a mark is superimposed on image data and transmitted to a printer, and the printer outputs the mark in the print control method for printing image data on which the mark is superimposed. The method includes a step of registering in association with a style, a step of selecting at least one mark from the registered marks, and a step of superimposing the selected mark on the image data.

A printer driver according to claim 10 is
A printer driver that is executed by a computer and causes a printer to superimpose a mark on image data and print the mark in association with an output format; and a step of registering at least one of the registered marks.
A step of selecting one mark and a step of superimposing the selected mark on the image data and causing the printer to print the mark.

12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the storage medium stores a printer driver which is executed by a CPU in a printer control device and superimposes a mark on image data to be converted into printer-specific data. The driver includes a step of registering the mark in association with an output format, a step of selecting at least one mark from the registered marks, and a step of superimposing the selected mark on the image data. It is characterized by the following.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a printer control device, a printer system, a print control method, a printer driver, and a storage medium according to the present invention will be described. The printer control device according to the present embodiment is applied to a host computer on which a printer driver operates.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a host computer connected to a printer. In the figure, reference numeral 1001 denotes a host computer on which a printer driver described later is mounted. Reference numeral 1002 denotes a host computer main body. A CPU 1003 controls each unit in the host computer main body 1002.

Reference numeral 1004 denotes the host computer main body 100
2, which stores a program for controlling each controller described later and data used in the program. This program is CPU
1003.

Reference numeral 1005 denotes a hard disk drive (HD)
D) A controller that controls access to the hard disk 1006. The hard disk 1006 stores an OS running on the host computer 1001, applications, and a printer driver. In addition, a setting file generated by the printer driver, an intermediate file, and a spool file managed by print queue control of the OS are also stored in the hard disk 1006.

Reference numeral 1007 denotes a RAM in which an OS, an application, and a printer driver stored in a hard disk 1006 are loaded via a hard disk drive controller 1005, respectively. These pieces of software are executed by the CPU 1003. A work area for executing each software is also secured in the RAM 1007.

A display controller 1008 controls a display device 1009 for displaying characters and images under the control of the CPU 1003. 101
0 is a keyboard / mouse controller, and CPU 1
According to the control of 003, the keyboard from the user
The input through the mouse 1011 is received. The user
Display device 1009 and keyboard / mouse 1
The user performs an interactive operation with the host computer 1001 by using “011”.

Reference numeral 1012 denotes a data input / output controller, which performs data communication with a printer 1013 connected to the host computer 1001 under the control of the CPU 1003.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the printer driver. In the figure, reference numeral 2001 denotes an OS graphics module, which is a host computer 1
At the time of printing by an application operating on the application 001, drawing data for each object is received from the application, and the drawing driver calls the printer driver 2002 to pass the drawing data.

Reference numeral 2003 denotes a print queue control unit of the OS, which receives image recording data generated by the printer driver 2002, records the image recording data in a spool file 2004,
Copy this spool file 2004 to the hard disk 100
6 is stored. Further, the image recording data stored in the spool file 2004 is extracted in the order in which it was generated, and is passed to the data transfer unit 2005 of the OS.

The data transfer unit 2005 transfers image recording data to the printer 1013 via the data input / output controller 1012, and causes the printer 1013 to print an image.

In the printer driver 2002, 21
Reference numeral 01 denotes a user interface unit that displays a dialog screen on the display device 1009,
By receiving an input from the mouse 1011, various print settings are made by the user.

Reference numeral 2102 denotes a watermark setting file, in which each item (see FIG. 3) of watermark registration data handled by the user interface unit 2101 is recorded and stored in the hard disk 1006. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table of watermark registration data recorded in the watermark setting file.

Reference numeral 2103 denotes a drawing information recording unit (image synthesizing unit) which receives print setting data and a graphics module 200 from the user interface unit 2101.
1 to receive drawing data for each object, record those data in an intermediate file 2104,
It is stored in the hard disk 1006. Upon receiving a print end instruction from the graphics module 2001, the image data generation unit 2105 is activated.

The image data generation unit 2105 reads the print setting data from the intermediate file 2104 stored in the hard disk 1006, performs an initialization process,
The print queue controller 2 receives the drawing data, generates image recording data to be transferred to the printer 1013, and
003.

In the user interface unit 2101, reference numeral 2111 denotes a watermark character string selection unit (mark selection means). Reference numeral 2112 denotes a watermark setting registration unit (mark registration unit), and a setting file 2102
To access the data of the user and process the user's setting operation regarding the watermark. Reference numeral 2113 denotes a part for performing processing on print setting items other than the watermark.
A setting data configuration unit 2114 generates setting data to be passed to the drawing information recording unit 2103 based on the setting information in these units.

Hereinafter, the watermark character string selecting section 21
11 and the processing of the watermark setting registration unit 2112 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a print setting dialog screen displayed on the display device 1009 by the user interface unit 2101 of the printer driver 2002. The processing for each of the parts 4001 to 4004 is performed by the watermark character string selection unit 2111
Done by

Reference numeral 4001 denotes a watermark character string selection combo box. The user can click the rightmost button of the combo box to display a list of options, and then perform a selection operation by clicking a mouse button. It is not possible to input directly to this combo box with the keyboard.

The combo box displays the character string of the currently registered watermark and the character string “none” selected by the user's operation.
The registered watermark character string group is obtained by reading a table in the format shown in FIG. 3 from the setting file 2102 into the work area of the RAM 1007. Hereinafter, this table read into the RAM 1007 is referred to as a watermark table.

When the selection in the combo box is changed, the output format data recorded in the record of the newly selected character string is obtained from the watermark table and set as the current setting. However, if "none" is selected, the current output format setting is initialized to a value determined as a default value. Further, this selection indicates that watermark printing is not performed. At this time, check boxes 4002 and 4003, which will be described later, are displayed in light color and cannot be operated.

Reference numerals 4002 and 4003 are check boxes for designating a watermark printing method.
The check box 4002 of “only the first page” specifies whether the mark is output only on the first page or is output on all pages. A “stamp print” check box 4003 specifies whether to output the mark in a stamp shape on the application image or to print the mark in a watermark shape below the application image. Here, the stamp-like output and the watermark-like output are collectively referred to as a watermark. Check boxes 4002 and 4003 are set independently of each mark character string. Therefore, these settings are not recorded in the setting file 2102 and the watermark table.

Reference numeral 4004 denotes a watermark setting button. By clicking this button with a mouse,
The watermark setting process by the watermark setting registration unit 2112 is activated.

Reference numeral 4005 denotes a preview area, which is an output format of a watermark when the character string selected in the combo box 4001 is printed in an output format corresponding to the character string recorded in the setting file 2102. Is displayed. The preview area 4005 is displayed from the component box 4001 to the check box 40.
03 is changed, or when the process of the watermark setting registration unit 2112 activated by clicking the watermark setting button 4004 ends,
Be updated.

Reference numeral 4006 denotes an OK button. By clicking this button with a mouse, the dialog is closed, and the values of the components of the check box 4003 and other setting items at that time are changed from the component box 4001 to the setting data configuration unit. 2114. These print setting data are applied from the setting data forming unit 2114 to the drawing information recording unit 2013 during the printing process by the printer driver 2002. However, if the character string “none” is selected in the watermark character string selection combo box 4001, information indicating that watermark printing is not performed is recorded in the print setting data.

When a watermark setting button 4004 is clicked, a watermark setting registration section 2112 is clicked.
This activates the watermark setting process shown in FIGS. FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing a procedure for setting a watermark in the user interface unit of the printer driver. As described above, the printer driver including the processing program is loaded from the hard disk 1006 and stored in the RAM 1007, and is executed by the CPU 1003.

First, it is determined whether or not the character string selected in the combo box 4001 in the print setting dialog is “none” (step S1001). If the character string is not "None", the combo box 4
001 stores the character string selected in
The output format data in the column of the character string variable (mark character string) S is obtained from the watermark table read in the work area of M1007, and recorded for dialog display (step S1002).

On the other hand, if the character string is "none" in step S1001, the character string variable S is initialized with an empty character string.
Further, each item of the dialog display data is initialized with a value determined as a default value (step S1003).

A watermark setting dialog consisting of three sheets shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 is displayed on the display device 1009 (step S1004). At this time, the dialog display data set in step S1002 or S1003 is used as the set value of each item. FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are views showing a watermark setting dialog screen of the printer driver displayed to the user when setting the watermark.

The input of the user from the keyboard / mouse 1011 is accepted (step S1005). In each of the following step processes, a process for a user input is performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the save button 5001 has been clicked by the user's input received in step S1005 (step S1006).

When the save button 5001 is clicked, the setting of the output format currently displayed in the dialog is registered in the watermark table (step S1).
007). At this time, the mark character string combo box 50
If the character string of 02 does not exist in the table, a new record is created and registered. If the character string in the mark character string combo box 5002 is “none”, the above registration processing is not performed. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1005.

On the other hand, if the user's input received in step S1005 is not a click of the save button 5001, it is determined whether or not the selection of the mark character string combo box 5002 has been changed (step S1008). Here, the combo box displays a list of choices by clicking the right-most button, performs a selection operation from the list, and can also perform direct input with a keyboard in the combo box. If the user's input received in step S1005 is a direct input operation, the process proceeds to step S1011 in this step.

If the selection of the mark character string combo box is changed in step S1008, the same registration processing as that in step S1007 is performed for the character string displayed in the mark character string combo box 5002 before the selection change operation by the user ( Step S1009).

The record of the newly selected mark character string is searched from the watermark table, and each item of the dialog display data is updated by setting the output format of each item of this record (step S1010). Thereafter, the process returns to step S1005.

On the other hand, if the user's input received in step S1005 is not a selection change of the mark character string combo box 5002, it is determined whether or not the OK button 5003 is clicked (step S1011). If the OK button 5003 is clicked, the process proceeds to step S100
7 and changes the display character string of the watermark character string selection combo box 4001 in the print setting dialog of FIG. 4 to the character string displayed in the mark character string combo box 5002 (step S1012) ). Then, the current contents of the watermark table are stored in the setting file 2102 of the hard disk 1006, and a character string group which becomes an option of the watermark character string selection combo box 4001 in the print setting dialog of FIG. 4 is registered in the watermark table. The character string group and the character string “none” are updated (step S1014).

On the other hand, if the user input received in step S1005 is not the click of the OK button 5003, it is determined whether or not the input is the click of the cancel button 5004 (step S1013). When the cancel button 5004 is clicked, the current contents of the watermark table are stored in the setting file 2102 of the hard disk 1006, and a character string that can be selected in the watermark character string selection combo box 4001 in the print setting dialog of FIG. The group is updated to the character string group registered in the watermark table and the character string "none" (step S1014). After this,
The dialog processing by the watermark setting registration unit 2112 ends, and the watermark character string selection unit 2111
Returns control to

On the other hand, if the user input received in step S1005 is not a click on the cancel button 5004, it is determined whether or not the input is a click on the delete button 5005 (step S1015). Delete button 500
5 is clicked, the character string displayed in the mark character string combo box 5002 is replaced with the character string in step S100.
2 or the value of the character string variable S set in S1003 (step S1016). As a result of this comparison, if they match, the cancel button 5004 on the watermark setting dialog screen is displayed in a light color and invalidated (step S1017). Thereafter, the user clicks the cancel button 5004 until the dialog is closed.

On the other hand, after the processing in step S1017 or when there is no match in step S1016, the character string displayed in the mark character string combo box 5002 is searched from the watermark table, and the character string of this character string is searched. If a record exists, the record is deleted from the watermark table, the dialog display data is reset with the default output format, and the dialog is redrawn (step S101).
8), the process returns to step S1005.

On the other hand, if the user input received in step S1005 is not a click of the delete button 5005, it is determined whether or not the character string in the mark character string combo box 5002 is edited (step S1019).
When the character string of the mark character string combo box 5002 is changed, a character string resulting from the change by the user accepted in step S1005 is searched from the watermark table, and as a result of this search, the same character string is found in the watermark table. It is determined whether a character string has been found (step S1020).

If the same character string is found in the watermark table, the dialog display data is updated with the output format setting value recorded in the watermark record found as a result of the search in step S1020. Update the screen (step S102)
1). Thereafter, the process returns to step S1005.

On the other hand, if the character string in the mark character string combo box 5002 is not edited in step S1019,
The input of the user accepted in step S1005 is reflected on the value of each setting item displayed in the dialog (step S1022). Thereafter, step S1005
The process returns to the step (1), and the next user input is accepted.

In this dialog, in addition to the mark character string combo box, there are the following output format setting items, and the value displayed in each item is output as watermark output format data by the above-described registration processing steps. , A watermark table, and a setting file 2102.

Reference numeral 5006 denotes a decoration designation combo box. Click the button on the right end of this combo box to display the options, and use the character string itself as the mark as the watermark output format.
Specifies whether to mark a character string enclosed in a rectangle or circle. Note that it is not possible to input directly from the keyboard in the field of this combo box.

The mark character string combo box 5002 and the modification designation combo box 5006 are displayed in common on all the sheets shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, and can be set on any sheet.

Reference numeral 5007 denotes a font name designation combo box. A list of font names that can be used as a watermark is displayed at the bottom of the combo box, and a font name specified by a selection operation by clicking a mouse is displayed at the top of the list. It is also possible to specify a font name by directly inputting from the keyboard in the upper display field. The font used as the watermark output format is specified by the combo box.

Reference numeral 5008 denotes a size designation combo box. A list of typical character sizes is displayed at the bottom of the combo box, and a size value specified by a selection operation by clicking a mouse is displayed at the top of the list. It is also possible to specify the size by directly inputting from the keyboard in the upper display column. This combo box specifies a size value used as a watermark output format.

Reference numeral 5009 denotes a bold designation check box. This check box designates whether or not a font designated by the font name designation combo box 5007 in a bold font is used as a mark. Also, 50
Reference numeral 10 denotes an italic designation check box, which similarly designates whether or not to use an italic font.

Reference numeral 5011 denotes a palette display area in which different colors are displayed in a frame. When the user clicks on any of the frames in the palette display area 5011 with the mouse, the color displayed in this frame is designated as the watermark output format.

Reference numeral 5012 denotes a color designation scroll bar.
The value indicated by the scroll bar is specified as the watermark output color. When an output color is designated by the palette display area 5011, the display of the color designation scroll bar 5012 is updated according to the output color.

Reference numeral 5013 denotes an output color display area, which is a palette display area 5011 or a color designation scroll bar 501.
The output color of the mark designated by 2 is displayed. The display of this area is updated each time an operation is performed on the palette display area 5011 or the color designation scroll bar 5012.

Reference numeral 5014 denotes a drawing position designation area. By clicking the button on the right end of the upper combo box, the output position of the mark is designated to one of the center and four corners of the paper, or to the position indicated by the coordinate value directly input in the lower input box.

Reference numeral 5015 denotes a rotation angle designation field for designating an angle for rotating a character string as a mark output format.

Reference numeral 5016 denotes a button for returning to the standard state.
9 is common to each sheet shown in FIG. When this button is clicked, the settings of the output format other than the mark character string combo box 5002 on the displayed sheet are reset to the values determined as default values.

Reference numeral 5017 denotes a preview area, which displays an output format when a mark is printed in accordance with each output format setting. The display of this area is updated each time the setting of each item is changed.

When the user starts the printing process by the application after setting the print including the watermark output mode by the user interface unit 2101 of the printer driver 2002, the application calls the graphics module 2001 of the OS. Drawing information recording unit 210 of printer driver 2002
3 performs image synthesis processing according to the procedure shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in accordance with a call from the graphics module 2001 of the OS.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the image synthesizing process. As described above, the printer driver including this processing program
006 and stored in the RAM 1007,
This is executed by the PU 1003.

First, the user interface unit 2101
The print setting data set by the user is acquired from the setting data configuration unit 2114 (step S200).
1). The print setting data includes information as to whether or not to perform watermark printing, designation of check boxes 4002 and 4003 on the print setting dialog screen shown in FIG. 4, and watermark characters in the table shown in FIG. A watermark output format including various setting values of the record of the character string selected in the column selection combo box 4001 is included.

Referring to the information acquired in step S2001, it is determined whether or not to perform watermark printing (step S2002). This is the watermark character string selection combo box 40 in the print setting dialog screen of FIG.
01 is determined based on whether or not the character string “none” has been selected.

When watermark printing is to be performed, it is determined whether or not to perform watermark printing only on the first page (step S2003). This is a check box 400 of “first page only” in the print setting dialog of FIG.
It is determined whether or not 2 has been checked.

If mark printing is to be performed only on the first page, it is determined whether the page currently being processed is the first page (step S2004). If it is the first page, or if it is determined in step S2003 that the watermark printing is not performed only on the first page, the information obtained in step S2001 is referred to, and the mark is printed in a stamp shape or a watermark is printed. It is determined whether to print in a shape (step S2005). This is a check box 40 of "stamp printing" in the print setting dialog of FIG.
It is determined based on whether 03 has been checked.

When printing is performed in a watermark form, step S2
Referring to the information acquired in step 001, drawing information for outputting a mark image in a specified output format is generated and recorded in the intermediate file 2104 of the hard disk 1006 (step S2006). By using the information acquired in step S2001, data for outputting a mark reflecting the watermark output format set in each of the dialogs of FIGS. 4 and 7 to 9 is recorded. This output format is reproduced.

After the processing in step S2006, if it is determined in step S2005 that printing is to be performed in a stamp form,
If it is determined in step S2004 that the current page is not the first page, or if it is determined in step S2002 that watermark printing is not to be performed, one page of data is printed according to a drawing instruction from an application via the graphics module 2001 of the OS. Is recorded in the intermediate file 2104 (step S).
2007).

Thereafter, referring to the information acquired in step S2001, it is determined whether or not to perform watermark printing as in step S2002 (step S200).
8). When performing watermark printing, step S2
As in 003, it is determined whether or not to perform watermark printing only on the first page (step S2009).

When printing a mark only on the first page, 1
It is determined whether the page is the page (step S201)
0). If it is the first page, or step S20
If it is determined in 09 that the mark printing is not performed only for the first page, it is determined whether the mark is to be printed in a stamp shape or a watermark shape as in step S2005 (step S2011).

If printing is performed in the form of a stamp, step S
Referring to the information acquired in 2001, drawing information for outputting a mark image is generated and recorded in the intermediate file 2104 of the hard disk 1006 (step S201).
2). By using the information acquired in step S2001, data for outputting a mark reflecting the watermark output format set in each of the dialogs of FIGS. 4 and 7 to 9 is recorded. This output format is reproduced.

After this processing, if it is determined in step S2011 that printing is to be performed in the form of a watermark, step S2010
If it is determined that the current page is not the first page, or if it is determined in step S2008 that watermark printing is not to be performed, it is determined whether the page currently being processed is the last page (step S2103). If it is not the last page, processing necessary for page break and data recording to the intermediate file 2104 are performed (step S20).
14). Thereafter, the process returns to step S2002, and the process for the next page is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2013 that the page is the last page, processing for ending printing and data recording in the intermediate file 2014 are performed, and the image data generation unit 2105 is activated (step S2015). Thus, the processing by the drawing information recording unit 2103 ends.

Step S by the drawing information recording unit 2103
Image data generation unit 21 activated by the process of 2015
Reference numeral 05 secures a buffer in the RAM 1007 for forming an image to be transferred to the printer, the buffer having a size corresponding to one page or a band that is a part of one page.

Then, the above steps S2006 and S20
07 and the drawing information of each object in the band which is a part of the page, which is recorded in S2012, is read from the intermediate file 2104 stored in the hard disk 1006, and the objects are read in the order recorded by the drawing information recording unit 2103. Is repeated, and image recording data output to the printer 1013 is generated.

The image recording data generated by the image data generation unit 2105 is transferred to the printer 1013 via the print queue control unit 2003 and the data transfer unit 2005, and the image is printed.

In the processing of the drawing information recording unit 2103 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, when the mark is watermark-printed, step S2006 is executed before step S2007 of recording the drawing information of the application image.
When stamp printing is performed, the drawing information of the mark is recorded in step S2012 executed after step S2007.

The image data generating unit 2105 also includes a drawing information recording unit 2103 in each page or band.
According to the setting of the “stamp print” check box 4003 on the print setting dialog screen shown in FIG. 4, the mark is superimposed on the application image so that it can be seen below or above the image. Printing is performed.

Steps S2003 and S200
4, or when the printing of only the first page is designated by the branch processing of steps S2009 and S2010, the processing of step S2006 or S2012 of recording the mark drawing information only on the first page is performed. Thus, when the “first page only” check box 4002 on the print setting dialog screen shown in FIG. 4 is checked, a mark is output only on the first page of the printed matter covering a plurality of pages, and a stamp is printed only on the cover of the document. Can be output in a manner as if the key were pressed.

A printer driver 2002 having such a configuration, user interface, and processing procedure
The following effects can be obtained irrespective of the application used to generate the print image by performing the print processing using.

The character string to be printed by the user as a watermark by the processing of the watermark character string selection unit 2111 is displayed in the watermark character string selection combo box 4.
By simply selecting from 001, the mark output format data registered in association with the character string is read from the watermark table and passed to the drawing information recording unit 2103 via the setting data configuration unit 2114.

In the drawing information recording unit 2103, the watermark drawing data is generated using the mark output format data, so that the user can perform the above-mentioned simple operation to print the font, size, color, output position, etc. of the watermark to be printed. Many setting items can be specified.

Since the choice displayed in the watermark character string selection combo box 4001 is the character string itself to be printed as a mark, the user is not confused when specifying the mark and the desired mark can be selected. Even when the existing option does not exist, it can be easily known and an easy-to-understand interface can be provided. In addition, the preview area 4005 always includes
Since the output format reflecting the various settings of the watermark is displayed, the output format of the designated mark can be easily confirmed.

Further, when the user changes the watermark character string or the output format using the dialogs shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the change is associated with the mark character string by the processing of the watermark setting registration unit 2112. Since it is recorded in the setting file 2102, the user can call a newly registered watermark according to his / her purpose by a simple operation in subsequent printing.

Since the watermark registration / re-registration operation is performed only by the watermark setting / registration unit 2112 of the printer driver 2002, another application is started to set the watermark.
There is no need to create any image files,
An interface with good operability can be provided. In addition, an output format reflecting various settings is always displayed in the preview area 5017.
The displayed value of each item can be confirmed in a more intuitive format.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the watermark character string selection combo box 400 is used.
When the character string "none" is selected in No. 1, processing for setting print settings in which watermark printing is not performed has been performed. However, in this case, the watermark setting registration unit 2
In 112, the character string "none" cannot be registered as a watermark character string.

In the second embodiment, in order to deal with this, a part of the dialog of the watermark registration setting unit 2112 is modified. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 10 to 15.

In the second embodiment, the configuration of the computer system shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the printer driver shown in FIG. 2, the table of the watermark registration data shown in FIG. 3, and the configurations shown in FIGS. The processing procedure of the drawing information recording unit of the printer driver is common to that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen of a portion for selecting a watermark character string in the print setting dialog displayed by the user interface unit 2101 of the printer driver 2002. Among them, the processing for each part of the watermark character string selection combo box 6001 to the watermark setting button 6004 and the watermark check box 6007 is performed by the watermark character string selection unit 2111.

In the figure, the functions of the “first page only” check box 6002, the “stamp print” check box 6003, the preview area 6005 and the OK button 6006 and the corresponding processing operations are the same as those in the first embodiment. 4, the corresponding 4002 shown in FIG.
Elements 4003, 4005, and 4006 are common to the elements, and a description thereof will be omitted.

However, in the first embodiment, when the character string “None” is selected in the watermark character string selection combo box, the check boxes 4002 and 4003 are displayed in light color. 6
The processing is not performed on 002 and 6003.

In the print setting dialog screen of the printer driver of this embodiment (see FIG. 12), a new watermark check box 60 is added to the dialog shown in FIG.
07 has been added.

This check box 6007 is used for designating information on whether or not to perform watermark printing in the print setting data to be passed to the setting data forming unit 2114. When the check box 6007 is checked, the setting for performing watermark printing is set, and the operations of the watermark character string selection combo box 6001, the check boxes 6002 and 6003, and the watermark setting button 6004 are enabled.

Watermark check box 600
7 is not checked, it is set to not perform watermark printing, and 6001, 6002, 6003,
Each of the dialog elements 6004 is displayed in light gray, and the operation on them is invalidated.

In the present embodiment, the watermark character string selection unit 2111 has a function as invalid setting means for controlling the presence / absence of watermark printing according to the user's designation in the watermark check box 6007.

If the watermark check box 6007 is checked and no character string is displayed in the watermark character string selection combo box 6001, 6001, 6002, 600
Validate each dialog element of 3,6004, but OK
When button 6006 is clicked, data indicating a setting for not performing watermark printing is passed to setting data configuration unit 2114.

As described above, by separately providing an item indicating whether or not to perform watermark printing as the check box 6007, the watermark character string selection combo box 6001 does not perform watermark printing for the character string “none”. It is not necessary to perform exception handling that is treated as an option that indicates Other processing operations regarding the combo box 6001 are the same as those of the combo box 4001 in the first embodiment.

When a watermark setting button 6004 is clicked, a watermark setting registration section 2112 is clicked.
This activates the watermark setting process of FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the watermark setting process. As in the first embodiment, the printer driver including this processing program loads the R loaded from the hard disk 1006.
It is stored in the AM 1007 and executed by the CPU 1003.

The data of the column of the character string selected in the combo box 6001 is acquired from the watermark table read into the work area in the RAM 1007, and recorded as dialog display data (step S3001). If no character string is registered in the combo box 6001, default output format data is used as display data.

A watermark setting dialog is displayed on the display device 1009 using the dialog display data acquired in step S3001 (step S300).
3002). FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a watermark setting dialog screen. The dialog includes a mark character string combo box 5002 and a preview area 50 on the left side of the dialog screen of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.
17, and has a mark character string selection area 7001 as shown in FIG. In addition, a mark addition / deletion button 7002 is provided instead of the deletion button 5005 of the first embodiment.

The dialog screen shown in FIG. 15 corresponds to the dialog screen shown in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. The dialog screen is composed of three screens including a sheet (not shown) in which the left part of the sheet shown in FIGS. Mark character string selection area 7
Reference numeral 001 denotes a list box showing each mark character string and an expression form and an icon when printing in an output format associated with the mark character string. Note that if no character string is registered in the combo box 6001, that is, if no record is registered in the watermark table, no option is displayed in the mark character string selection area 7001.

[0114] As in step S1005, the keyboard
The user's input from the mouse 1011 is received (step S3003). It is determined whether the input received in step S3003 is a click on the mark addition / deletion button 7002 (step S3004). When a mark addition / deletion button 7002 is clicked, a mark character string is newly added / deleted.
3 is performed (step S3005). Thereafter, the process returns to step S3003, and waits for the next input from the user.

On the other hand, if the input received in step S3003 is not the click of the mark addition / deletion button 7002, it is determined whether or not the save button 7003 is clicked (step S3006). Save button 7003
Is clicked, the setting of the output style currently displayed in the dialog is changed to the mark character string selection area 7001.
Is associated with the mark character string selected in
07 is registered in the watermark table read into the work area (step S3007). Thereafter, the process returns to step S3003.

On the other hand, if the input received in step S3003 is not a click of the save button 7003, it is determined whether or not the selection has been changed in the mark character string selection area 7001 (step S3008). If the selection in the mark character string selection area 7001 has been changed, step S30
The same registration processing as that of 07 is performed (step S3009).
Then, the record of the newly selected mark character string is searched from the watermark table, and each item of the dialog display data is updated with the set value of the output format of each item of this record (step S3010). Thereafter, the process returns to step S3003. Note that the character string itself displayed below the mark character string selection area 7001 cannot be directly edited by keyboard input.

On the other hand, if the input received in step S3003 is not a selection change in the mark character string selection area 7001, it is determined whether or not the OK button 7004 is clicked (step S3011). OK button 7004
Is clicked, the same registration processing as in step S3007 is performed (step S3012).

That is, a watermark character string selection combo box 6001 in the dialog box shown in FIG.
Is updated to the character string group registered in the watermark table at this time, and the display character string of the combo box 6001 is updated to the character string selected in the mark character string selection area 7001. I do. Further, the information of the watermark table is written in the setting file 2102 in the hard disk 1006. Thereafter, the dialog processing by the watermark setting registration unit 2112 ends, and control is returned to the watermark character string selection unit 2111.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the input received in step S3003 is not a click on the OK button 7004, it is determined whether or not the input is a click on the cancel button 7005 (step S3013). If a cancel button 7005 is clicked, all operations performed in the dialog processing by the watermark setting registration unit 2112 are invalidated.
The information of the watermark table is reread from the setting file 2102 in Step 6 (Step S3014). As a result, all operations including addition and deletion of a mark character string described later become invalid. Thereafter, the dialog processing by the watermark setting registration unit 2112 ends, and control is returned to the watermark character string selection unit 2111.

In step S3013, cancel button 7 is pressed.
If it is determined that the click is not 005, the same as step S1022 in the first embodiment, step S3
A process for reflecting the user input other than those described above in the dialog display among those received in 003 is performed (step S
3015). In this dialog, items other than those described above are the same as those shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 in the first embodiment. Then, the process returns to step S3003 to accept the next user input.

If no options are displayed in the mark character string selection area 7001 in this dialog, all setting items except the mark addition / deletion button 7002, the OK button 7004, and the cancel button 7005 are set. The and buttons are grayed out, and operations on them are disabled.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show steps S3005.
6 is a flowchart showing a mark addition / deletion processing procedure in FIG. This processing is started from step S4001.

The character string selected in the mark character string selection area 7001 is stored in the character string variable S (step S4).
001). If no character string as an option is displayed in the mark character string selection area 7001, the character string variable S is initialized with an empty character string.

A dialog screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed (step S4002). FIG. 18 shows a dialog screen. Of these, mark character string list box 8
001 displays all the mark character strings registered in the watermark table. In this dialog, if nothing is entered in the mark character string input field 8002, the add button 8003 is displayed, or if nothing is selected in the mark character string list box 8001, the delete button 8004 is displayed in gray. , Operations on those buttons are invalidated.

A user input from the mouse / keyboard 1011 is accepted (step S4003). The input of the user accepted in step S4003 is an add button 8
003 is determined (Step S)
4004). If the add button 8003 is clicked, a character string displayed in the mark character string input field 8002 is searched from the watermark table, and it is determined whether or not this character string exists (step S400).
5).

If this character string does not exist, a record of the character string displayed in the mark character string input field 8002 is created in the watermark table (step S4).
006). For each item other than the mark character string, set the value specified as the default value. This character string is also inserted into the mark character string list box 8001. Thereafter, as in the case where a character string exists in step S4005, the process returns to step S4003.

In step S4004, add button 8003
If not, it is determined whether or not the user input received in step S4003 is a click on the delete button 8004 (step S4007). If the delete button 8004 is clicked, the character string selected in the mark character string list box 8001 is searched from the watermark table, and the record is deleted (step S4008). This character string is deleted from the mark character string list box 8001.

The mark character string deleted in step S4008 is compared with the value of character string variable S (step S400
9), if both strings match as a result of this comparison,
A mark character string selection area 70 in the watermark setting dialog controlled by the processing of FIGS.
An empty character string is set as a character string variable S as a value indicating that the character string selected in 01 has been deleted (step S4010). Thereafter, the process returns to step S4003, as in the case where there is no match in step S4009.

On the other hand, if the user input accepted in step S4003 is not a click on the delete button 8004, it is determined whether or not the close button 8005 is clicked (step S4011). Close button 8005
If is not clicked, the input from the user other than the above is processed, reflected on the display in the dialog (step S4012), and the process returns to step S4003.

Close button 800 in step S4011
If the click is 5, it is determined whether or not the value of the character string variable S is an empty character string (step S4013). If it is an empty character string, that is, if the character string selected in the mark character string selection area 7001 in the watermark setting dialogue controlled by the processing of FIGS. 13 and 14 has been deleted in step S4008, or When no character string is originally registered in the character string selection area 7001, the selection of the mark character string selection area 7001 in the watermark setting dialog is updated to the first character string in the list box of this selection area. (Step S4014). By this processing, the selection area 700
This prevents a situation in which no character string is selected while a character string is present in 1. If no character string is registered in the selection area 7001, this processing is not performed. Thus, the process is completed.

If it is determined in step S4013 that the character string is not an empty character string, the processing ends, and the flow returns to the processing after step S3005 in FIGS.

The processing after the user performs the print setting including the watermark output mode on the printer driver 2002 by the user interface unit 2101 and starts the print processing by the application is the same as that in the first embodiment. However, the drawing information recording unit 210
3, the setting items of the dialog corresponding to the branch condition of each branch step are those in each dialog shown in FIG. 12 and FIG.

By using a printer driver having such a configuration, a user interface, and a processing procedure, an arbitrary character string including the character string “None” can be compared with the case of the first embodiment. It can be used as a column. As in the first embodiment, various settings relating to the watermark output format can be performed by a simple operation using these mark character strings as keys.

Further, by making the watermark setting dialogue in the format shown in FIG. 15, the user can know the outline of the watermark including the output format at the stage of selecting the mark character string, so that the user can be more informed. Intuitive operability can be provided.

It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a printer driver to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading the storage medium storing the printer driver for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, an exchangeable hard disk 1006 is used as a storage medium, and the hard disk 1006 is loaded from the hard disk 1006 to the RAM 1007 and the CPU 1
003, the printer driver is executed. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and various applications are possible.
The printer driver may be stored in the RAM, and the CPU may directly access the printer driver, or the printer driver may be loaded into the RAM through a communication line. Examples of exchangeable storage media include, for example, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk,
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.

[0137]

According to the printer control device of the first aspect of the present invention, when a mark is superimposed on image data and transmitted to the printer, the mark is registered by the mark registration means in association with the output format. And at least one mark is selected from the registered marks by the mark selecting means, and the selected mark is superimposed on the image data by the image synthesizing means. In addition to marks that are superimposed and output, the output format can also be registered independently for each mark, and the registered mark and its output format can be registered at any time by simple operation using mark selection means. It can be called and specified, and the user can reduce the trouble of the operation of repeatedly setting an output style unique to each mark. Further, by superimposing the marks by the image synthesizing unit according to the designation, the user can obtain a desired printed matter.

Therefore, when the user of the host computer designates a stamp mark or a watermark to be superimposed on the output image of the application, the user can view and select the character string actually printed, thereby providing an easy-to-understand user interface. Can be provided.

Further, by registering the output format of the mark such as the output position, size, color, etc. in association with the character string to be printed, it is possible to save the trouble of resetting these output formats each time printing is performed. And operability can be improved.

Further, since the definition and setting of these output marks are all performed by the interface of the printer driver, the trouble of the user operation such as activating and using another application for these definitions and settings can be eliminated. .

The print system according to claim 8,
Similar effects can be obtained with the print control method according to the ninth aspect, the printer driver according to the tenth aspect, and the storage medium according to the eleventh aspect.

According to the printer control device of the present invention, since the mark is obtained by modifying a character string, the mark is compared with the case where a mark including a general image is registered.
The user's operation related to mark registration by the mark registration means can be simplified. In addition, by providing a character string modification function, a wider expression can be achieved as compared with a case where only a character string is used as a mark.

According to the printer control device of the present invention, the mark registration means performs the registration of the mark and the output format associated with the mark by a user input operation. It is possible to register and set a mark by a simple operation without requiring the user to create data in advance by using other application software or the like.

According to the printer control device of the fourth aspect, the mark registration means registers the character string in association with the output style, and the mark selection means registers the character string as an option selected by a user. The image compositing unit superimposes a mark corresponding to the character string selected by the mark selecting unit and an output format associated with the character string on the image data, so that the character output as the mark is displayed. By allowing the user to register and select a mark and its output format using the column itself as a key, it is possible to provide a user-friendly selection operation of the mark.

According to the printer control device of the fifth aspect, the output format associated with the mark includes a character decoration format, a font, a font size, an output color of the character string, and the character string on paper. Since at least one of the output position of the character string and the rotation angle of the character string on the paper is included, a large number of setting items are provided as modifications to the character string to provide a wide range of mark expression functions to the user. can do.

According to the printer control device of the sixth aspect, the image synthesizing unit adds the mark to the image data when a predetermined character string set in advance by the mark selecting unit is selected by the user. By using a predetermined character string to indicate that mark printing is not to be performed by the mark selecting means since the mark setting means does not overlap, two setting items, ie, selection of whether or not to print a mark and selection of a mark character string, are integrated. Operability can be improved.

According to the printer control apparatus of the seventh aspect, since the invalid setting means for invalidating the image synthesizing means according to the user's designation is provided, it is indicated that the mark selecting means does not perform the mark printing. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform an exception process such as selecting whether or not to print a mark using a predetermined character string, and operability can be improved.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a printer driver which is executed by a CPU in a printer control device and superimposes a mark on image data to be converted into printer-specific data. A step of registering the mark in association with an output format, a step of selecting at least one mark from the registered marks, and a step of superimposing the selected mark on the image data. Therefore, the expandability and versatility of the printer control device can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a host computer connected to a printer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printer driver.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table of watermark registration data recorded in a watermark setting file.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a print setting dialog screen displayed on a display device 1009 by a user interface unit 2101 of a printer driver 2002.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a watermark setting processing procedure in a user interface unit of the printer driver.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a watermark setting processing procedure in the user interface unit of the printer driver continued from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a watermark setting dialog screen of a printer driver displayed to a user when setting a watermark.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a watermark setting dialog screen of a printer driver displayed to a user when setting a watermark.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a watermark setting dialog screen of a printer driver displayed to a user when setting a watermark.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an image synthesis processing procedure.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an image synthesis processing procedure following FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a screen of a part for selecting a watermark character string in a print setting dialog displayed by a user interface unit 2101 of the printer driver 2002.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a watermark setting processing procedure.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a watermark setting processing procedure following FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a watermark setting dialog screen.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a mark addition / deletion processing procedure in step S3005.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a mark addition / deletion processing procedure in step S3005 following FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a dialog screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1001 Host computer 1002 Host computer main body 1003 CPU 1004 ROM 1006 Hard disk 1007 RAM 1013 Printer 2002 Printer driver 2101 User interface unit 2103 Drawing information recording unit 2105 Image data generation unit 2111 Watermark character string selection unit 2112 Watermark setting registration unit 2114 Setting data Component

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A printer control apparatus for superimposing a mark on image data and transmitting the mark to a printer, a mark registration unit for registering the mark in association with an output format, and at least one mark from the registered marks. A printer control device comprising: mark selecting means for selecting; and image synthesizing means for superimposing the selected mark on the image data. 2. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the mark is obtained by modifying a character string. 3. The mark registration means performs registration of the mark and registration of an output format associated with the mark by a user's input operation.
Printer control device as described. 4. The mark registering means registers the character string in association with the output style, and the mark selecting means displays the character string as an option selected by a user. 3. The printer control device according to claim 2, wherein a mark corresponding to the character string selected by the mark selecting means and an output format associated with the character string is superimposed on the image data. 5. An output format associated with the mark includes a format of a character decoration, a font, a font size, an output color of the character string, an output position of the character string on paper, and the output of the character string on the paper. 3. The printer control device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the rotation angles of the character string is included. 6. The image composing means does not superimpose the mark on the image data when a predetermined character string preset by the mark selecting means is selected by a user. Printer control device as described. 7. The printer control device according to claim 1, further comprising invalidation setting means for invalidating the image synthesizing means according to a user's designation. 8. A printer system having a printer and a printer control device, wherein the printer control device superimposes a mark on image data and transmits the mark to the printer, and the printer prints the image data on which the mark is superimposed. The printer control device, mark registration means for registering the mark in association with an output format, mark selection means for selecting at least one mark from the registered marks, and A printer system comprising: an image synthesizing unit that superimposes data. 9. A print control method for superimposing a mark on image data and transmitting the image data to a printer, wherein the printer prints the image data on which the mark is superimposed, wherein the step of registering the mark in association with an output format; A print control method, comprising: selecting at least one mark from the registered marks; and superimposing the selected mark on the image data. 10. A printer driver which is executed by a computer and causes a printer to print a mark by superimposing a mark on image data, a procedure for registering the mark in association with an output format, and at least one of the registered marks A printer driver comprising: a step of selecting one mark; and a step of causing the printer to print the selected mark by superimposing the selected mark on the image data. 11. A storage medium storing a printer driver which is executed by a CPU in a printer control device and superimposes a mark on image data to be converted into printer-specific data, wherein the printer driver outputs the mark in an output format. A storage medium comprising: a step of registering in association with a step; a step of selecting at least one mark from the registered marks; and a step of superimposing the selected mark on the image data.