JP2000112683A - Image processing method, image processor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform desired setting among several sets of necessary settings by preparing base setting to set all items and override setting to set optional items, overriding the override setting for the base setting (setting of all items). SOLUTION: In this information processing method, an icon of the override setting in which only the optional items are registered is generated in addition to that an icon of the base setting in which all setting items are registered when the icon is registered. Only effective items which are registered in the icon are changed by overriding the icon of the override setting on the base setting (or current setting).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for handling a plurality of setting items collectively in a user interface, an information processing method, and a storage medium for storing processing procedures.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an information processing apparatus, various settings are made through a user interface. When many setting items have complicated dependencies, for example, some have a function of registering several setting items at once and selecting them to change a plurality of items collectively.

[0003] Taking a printer driver as an example, at present, items relating to print quality such as graphic mode, resolution, color, and replacement of True Type in fonts are set and associated with icons, and a plurality of icons are used for printing purposes. There is an information processing method of selecting a combination and changing the setting. However, this is input paper, output paper,
Physical settings such as a paper feeding method, a paper discharging method, the number of copies, and a page layout are not included and need to be set separately.

[0004]

In the case of the above example, not all the setting items are to be registered, and the setting of paper and paper feeding method must be performed individually. For example, in the case of handling printing in some specific formats such as a bank or an insurance company, it is inconvenient to reset paper and paper feed information separately.

Considering that all items are to be registered, there is an advantage in the above-mentioned matter. Conversely, even if only the print quality or the like is to be changed, if the icon is selected, the paper is always printed. -Since the paper feed and the like are also reset, they are eventually set again, which is also inconvenient. It is possible to register all necessary sets including paper and paper feed, but the number of icons may increase, which may make usability worse.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prepare a base setting for setting all items and an override setting for setting an arbitrary item, and to override the override setting for the base setting (all item settings). ,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing method, an information processing apparatus, and a storage medium storing a procedure of a process that can easily perform a desired setting among a required number of sets.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In registering an icon, in addition to a base setting in which all setting items are registered, an icon of an override setting in which only an arbitrary item is registered can be created. By overriding it with the base setting (or the current setting), only valid items registered in the icon can be changed.

[0008]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. First, the concept of the override setting is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, base setting (or current setting)
If you overwrite an override setting that has a valid setting value only for any item, the valid item will be overwritten with that setting value,
For invalid items, the previous setting values are used as they are.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the base setting, input paper: A4, output paper: A4, print orientation: portrait, page layout: one page, enlargement / reduction ratio: 100%, resolution: 600 dpi, Overlay: Normal printing, File name: (None), True Type Replacement: On
.., On the other hand, in the override setting, input paper: slip A, output paper: slip A, printing direction: landscape, page layout: (no setting), scaling ratio: (no setting), resolution: (No setting),
Overlay: overlay printing, file name: "Slip 1.
ls4 ”, True Type replacement: (No setting)... Therefore, when the override setting is overridden with respect to the base setting, as described above, the effective items of the override setting are as described above. The set values are overwritten, and invalid items are used as they are, so input paper: slip A, output paper: slip A, printing direction: landscape, page layout: page printing, Scaling ratio: 100
%, Resolution: 600 dpi, overlay: overlay printing, file name: "slip 1.ls4", True Type replacement: On ...

[0010] The override icon can be selected a plurality of times, and the registration of the icon selected later is always valid.

First, some applications using the present invention are listed below. Example 1 When handling documents in several formats [Slip A] Input / output paper: Slip A (user-defined paper) Paper feeding method: Upper cassette Printing direction: Landscape overlay: "Slip 1.ls4" (Slip of slip (With format) [Voucher B] Input / output paper: Voucher B (user-defined paper) Paper feeding method: Lower cassette Printing direction: Landscape overlay: “Voucher 2.ls4” Base is text document (high resolution, PDL mode) By selecting a suitable one and overriding these icons, paper, paper feed, form file designation, printing direction, etc. can be set or switched in one operation.

Example 2 [Binding] Double-sided printing: On Binding position: Specified arbitrarily Binding margin: Specified arbitrarily Set the base according to the printed matter (for example, if there are many pictures and figures, image system (medium resolution, image mode), If you have a lot of text, select a document type, etc.) and let it override this setting, making it easy to set up bookbinding for different types of documents.

Example 3 [Program list] Input / output paper: A4 Paper feed direction: Lower cassette (back paper, etc.) Printing direction: Portrait True Type: Replacement (higher speed) Settings for saving paper and performing high-speed printing It is.

As described above, according to the present invention,
By registering some base icons and some overriding icons according to the purpose of use, it is possible to change any setting with a small number of icons and with a simple operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an example of a system configuration to which the present invention is applied. In the embodiment, the control is based on a printer driver program stored in a host computer connected to the network in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the host computer. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes the entire host computer, and reference numeral 20 denotes a control unit of the host computer excluding peripheral devices. 1
Is a CPU for controlling the entire system, and 2 is a CPU
1 is a RAM that provides a work area, 3 is a keyboard controller (KBC), and a keyboard (KB)
Key input from the keyboard 10 or a pointing device (not shown) is controlled. 4 is a CRT controller (CRTC)
And controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 11. 5 is a disk controller (DKC),
FD, HD, CD-ROM, MD, which stores boot programs, various applications, data files, etc.
The access to the external memory 12 such as an MO is controlled. 6 is a main bus.

In FIG. 17, reference numeral 1700 denotes an external memory 1
2 (particularly FD (floppy disk)), 1701 is volume information indicating data information, 1702 is directory information, 1703 is a control program for icon registration in the printer driver described in this embodiment, 1704 Is the relevant data.
The control program of 1703 corresponds to FIG.
This is program-coded based on the flowchart of the control procedure shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a ROM that stores the operation processing procedure of the CPU 1. The ROM 8 includes a program ROM in which a printer driver program for converting document data generated by a document creation application stored in the external memory 12 into print data and a control program for realizing the present system are stored. ROM that stores information required to operate the server
There is. The program stored in the program ROM stores the control program of the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 11 described later.

7 is a network interface (N
et I / F), which performs data transfer control between computers and data control for performing data transfer with a network system (such as the Internet).

FIG. 16 shows a memory map in a state where the control program of the present printer driver is loaded into the RAM 2 and becomes executable.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the control program and related data are directly loaded from the external memory 12 to the RAM and executed. However, each time the control program is operated from the external memory 12, the external memory is executed. 12 may be loaded into the RAM 2.

Reference numeral 1601 denotes a basic I / O program.
The OS is read from the external memory into the RAM 2 when the power of the information processing apparatus is turned on, and is an area in which a program having an IPL (Initial Program Loading) function for starting operation of the OS is stored. . 1
602, an OS; 1603, a control program;
In 604, related data is respectively developed, and in 1605, a work area where the CPU 1 executes the control program is set.

In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, C
PU1 is connected to RAM2, KBC3, C via main bus 6.
It controls the RTC 4, DKC 5, and ROM 8.
The control program of the host computer is stored in the ROM 8 or the external memory 12, and is loaded from the ROM at the time of execution, expanded on the RAM 2, and executed.

In the system configured as described above,
When the detailed settings of the application and the device driver are changed by opening the user interface, an input by the user from the KB 10 or a pointing device (not shown) is received, and the status and process are displayed on the display screen (CRT 11). In the embodiment of the present invention, the setting contents of a plurality of setting items are registered in the icon, and the setting value is reflected in the data by selecting the icon. However, the registration is performed in the RAM 2 or the external memory 12 unless otherwise specified. Is performed for

(Embodiment 1) Icon registration: A method of registering a plurality of setting items in one recording unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 show examples of a user interface for setting registration in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a basic sheet having a list display section of registered icons, a comment column for displaying the description of the icons, and an “edit / registration” button for performing new setting or changing setting contents. The upper part of the icon list display part is the icon for the base setting, and the lower part (position A...) Is the icon for the override setting.

In the sheet shown in FIG. 5, the title, design, and comment of the icon to be registered are set.

In the sheet shown in FIG. 6, each item to be registered is set. Here, if "according to the existing setting" is selected, the existing setting is inherited, and if another option is selected, the setting is effective.

The sheets shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
You can switch back and forth until you press the "K" or "Cancel" button. When the “OK” button is pressed, the settings are registered at that time. If the set title already exists, the icon data of the title is updated, and if it does not exist, it is newly registered.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining control of a printer driver control program stored in the external memory 12 or the ROM 8 of the host computer 30. Using the flowchart shown in FIG.
The registration flow will be explained. After the user selects one of the icons, the apparatus enters the registration setting mode (step S100). Next, the user inputs additional information of registration data such as a title and a comment via the KB 10 (step S101), and sets items to be actually registered (step S102). The initial values of these data are set values registered in the selected icon. The setting items include options having valid setting values and options for inheriting existing settings without setting values. If all items are filled with valid setting values, the base setting is set, and if only arbitrary partial items are filled with valid setting values, the override setting is set.

Here, when canceling (step S1)
03), end without doing anything (step S106), and
Then (step S104), the registration data at that time is registered in the external memory 12 (step S105).
The process ends (step S106). Steps S101 and S102 can be executed until OK or cancel is designated.

Data setting using icons: FIGS. 8 to 1
The method for changing the setting of data of a plurality of items when an icon is used will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a basic sheet, in which a list display section of registered icons, an icon display section showing a current base icon, a comment column for displaying an explanation of the icons, and a screen for changing detailed settings. Has an "Edit" button.

FIG. 9 shows how a base icon is selected. By dragging and dropping the base icon on the icon display section, the setting value of the icon becomes valid. At this time, the dragged icon is displayed in the icon display section, and the comment of the icon is displayed in the comment section.

FIG. 10 shows how an override icon is selected. By dragging and dropping the override icon onto the icon display section, the setting value is updated for a valid item registered in the override icon. At this time, a comment indicating a change (a list of changes in FIG. 10) is displayed in the comment section.

When a setting not registered in the icon is performed, a detailed setting change for each item can be performed by pressing an "edit" button.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the control of the control program of the printer driver. Next, FIG.
The flow of the data setting change will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. On the basic screen (step S200), when the printer driver determines that the user has selected the base icon using the KB10 (step S201), all items to be set are replaced with the set values of the icon (step S202) and displayed. A screen process is performed (step S203). If the printer driver determines that the user has selected the override icon (step S204), the items for which the settings are valid are changed to the set values, and the invalid values are used as they are (step S205). Here also, the display screen is processed after the data processing (step S206). When canceling here (step S207), the setting screen is exited without doing anything, and when OK (step S208), the data is updated to make the setting change up to that time effective (step S20)
9), end the data setting mode (step S21)
0). Until OK or cancel is designated, the steps from step S201 to step S206 are repeated. Note that the override setting is repeated any number of times. In this case, a partial change is made to the current setting (final setting).

(Embodiment 2) Icon registration: The portion related to icon registration is the same as that of the embodiment 1, and the description is omitted.

Data setting using icons: A description will be given, with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15, of a method for changing the setting of data of a plurality of items when icons are used.

In the second embodiment, no distinction is made between the base icon and the override icon (all are handled as override icons). Always override the settings of the selected icon.

FIG. 12 shows a basic sheet. Compared to the first embodiment, there is no icon display unit, and there is a “default” button. The icon is selected by double-clicking or using a floating pop-up menu as shown in FIG. Of course, a receiving port may be provided, and drag and drop may be used as in the first embodiment. This overrides the valid item of the selected icon to the current setting. By pressing the "default" button, all setting items can be returned to the default values.

FIG. 14 shows an example in which a default icon is prepared instead of a default button, and a default setting process is similarly performed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the control of the control program of the printer driver. Next, FIG.
The flow of the data setting change will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. On the basic screen (step S300), when the printer driver determines that the user has specified to return to the default (step S301),
All items to be set are returned to the default setting values (step S302), and the display screen is processed (step S30).
3). When an icon is selected (step S304),
For the items for which the setting is valid, the setting value is changed to the setting value, and for the invalid item, the setting value up to that time is used as it is (step S30).
5). Here, the display screen is also processed after the data processing (step S306). If cancel is selected here (step S307), the setting screen is exited without doing anything,
At the time of OK (step S308), the data is updated to make the setting change valid so far (step S309), and the data setting mode is ended (step S308).

FIG. 18 shows a state in which a floppy disk (FD: storage medium), which is the external memory 12, is loaded into the host computer 30 according to the present embodiment, and a program stored in the disk is loaded into the host computer 30. FIG.

A medium in which software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are recorded is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus stores the program stored in the storage medium. The purpose of the present invention is also achieved by reading and executing the code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
Etc. can be used.

By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

[0047]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a base setting for setting all items and an override setting for setting an arbitrary item are prepared, and the base setting (all item settings) is prepared. By overriding the override setting, an information processing method, an information processing apparatus, and a storage medium that stores a procedure of a process that can easily perform a desired setting out of several necessary sets are obtained.

Further, since all items can be registered, for example, in a business or the like in which only a few types of printed matter are handled, by registering a single setting, all the settings can be completed only by selecting an icon. . Since any item can be enabled, even if the number of documents to be handled increases, the necessary number of icons with paper, paper feed method, form file, etc. set can be registered and used in combination with those icons Therefore, the number of icons does not increase so much. Also, if only items such as the conventional print quality are registered, the same usage as the conventional one can be performed.

As described above, detailed settings can be easily performed with a small number of icons and a small number of operations, thereby increasing work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a concept of an override process;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration suitable for the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a host computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (basic sheet of a registration process);

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (title, icon, comment setting sheet);

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (a detailed setting sheet for each item).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of registering a setting in an icon.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (basic sheet 1 of data setting processing).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of base icon selection.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of selecting an override icon.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1 of a data setting process using icons.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (basic sheet 2 of data setting processing).

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (selection from a menu).

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface (basic sheet 3 for data setting processing).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart 2 of a data setting process using icons.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a memory map in a state where a control program of a printer driver is loaded into a RAM and becomes executable;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating data contents of an external memory;

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram showing how a program stored in a disk is loaded into a host computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 KBC (keyboard controller) 4 CRTC (CRT controller) 5 DKC (disk controller) 6 Main bus 10 KB (keyboard) 11 CRT (display device) 12 External memory

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for outputting print data based on print settings set on a user interface, comprising: storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of print setting information obtained by combining setting items with a plurality of attributes; From a plurality of print setting information stored in the storage unit, a selection unit for selecting a plurality of print setting information reflected in printing, based on the plurality of print setting information selected by the selection unit, An information processing apparatus comprising: a generation unit configured to generate print data; 2. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a registration unit for registering one piece of print setting information obtained by combining setting items in a plurality of attributes.
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit generates the print setting information by giving a valid setting value to only an arbitrary item among the setting items to be registered, and registers the print setting information in the storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pieces of print setting information include base setting information combining attribute setting items related to print quality and override setting information combining attribute setting items related to physical setting. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selection means causes said base setting information and said override setting information to be selected one by one. 6. The printing device according to claim 5, wherein the generation unit is configured to overwrite the base setting information selected by the selection unit with the override setting information and generate print setting information.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein print data is generated. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the base setting information includes a setting item of an attribute related to a physical setting. 8. When the base setting information is selected by the selection unit, each setting item of the base setting information is replaced with each setting of a print setting item used when the generation unit generates print data. When the override setting information is selected by the selecting means, the information processing apparatus further comprises a replacing means for replacing a valid setting item of the override setting information with an item of the print setting item. 7. The information processing apparatus according to 7. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a recognizing means for recognizing a selection as to whether or not to execute the update of the print setting item based on the replacement by the replacing means. . 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print setting information is displayed on a display unit as an icon. 11. An information processing method for outputting print data based on print settings set on a user interface, wherein a plurality of pieces of print setting information obtained by combining setting items in a plurality of attributes are stored. An information processing method comprising: selecting a plurality of pieces of print setting information to be reflected in printing from a plurality of pieces of print setting information, and generating print data based on the plurality of pieces of selected print setting information. . 12. The information processing method according to claim 11, wherein, when storing the print setting information, the print setting information is registered as one print setting information obtained by combining the setting items in a plurality of attributes. 13. When registering as print setting information, print setting information is generated and registered by giving an effective setting value only to an arbitrary item among setting items to be registered. The information processing method according to claim 12. 14. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pieces of print setting information include base setting information combining attribute setting items related to print quality and override setting information combining attribute setting items related to physical setting. The information processing method according to any one of claims 10 to 13. 15. The information processing method according to claim 14, wherein the selection of the print setting information is to select the base setting information and the override setting information one by one. 16. The print data is generated based on print setting information that is generated by overwriting the selected base setting information with the override setting information. The information processing method according to claim 15, wherein 17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the base setting information includes setting items of attributes related to physical settings.
The information processing method described. 18. When the base setting information is selected, each setting item of the base setting information is replaced with each setting of a print setting item used when generating print data.
18. When the override setting information is selected, a valid setting item of the override setting information is replaced with an item of the print setting item.
The information processing method described. 19. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein the selection of whether or not to execute the update of the print setting item based on the replacement is recognized. 20. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein the print setting information is displayed as an icon on a display unit. 21. A program for executing the function of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or a program for executing the method of the information processing method according to any one of claims 11 to 20 Recording medium storing. 22. The recording medium according to claim 21, wherein said recording medium is detachable from an information processing apparatus. 23. The recording medium according to claim 21, wherein the recording medium is an FD, HD, CD-ROM, M
D, MO, a memory card, or the like.