JP2000194515A - Document processor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify an operation procedure for document printing and to improve operation efficiency by displaying the identification icons of page documents sectioned by pages in a display area, selecting and arranging identification icons, and then generating a virtual document for outputting the page documents in the order of the arrangement. SOLUTION: A CPU displays a virtual document editor picture on a display device 5 and generates a virtual document management file E from respective virtual spool page records in a virtual spool file C through a virtual document editing process for selecting and arranging identification icons on the virtual document editor picture. Then the file is stored in a virtual document management file folder stored in a storage device. In the virtual document management file E, editing contents corresponding to respective virtual spool page records are stored as management information by the name of the document file as an object of editing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus for creating a document by editing various data such as a document and a table, and a storage medium storing a control program for the document processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, various application programs such as spreadsheets and databases are used in office computers and general-purpose computers mainly for office work. Various application programs such as spreadsheets and databases are also used to create documents prepared for distribution or presentation at meetings, including presentation materials and drawings.

When printing such a document, for example, if it is a document, an application program such as a word processor is started to open document data to be printed, and
When a print instruction is input after specifying the page number to be printed on the print dialog screen, the document data of the page to be printed is transferred from the application program to the specified printer driver program in the system, and converted into command data of the specified printer. And output it to the designated printer for printing.

[0004] Therefore, when one document includes a plurality of types of data such as documents, presentation materials, drawings, etc., application programs corresponding to the respective data are individually activated, and the above printing process is repeated. Needed.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional document printing process, if a single document includes a plurality of types of data such as documents, presentation materials, drawings, etc. It is necessary to start up the application program corresponding to the data individually and repeatedly instruct a predetermined printing process to perform printing.Moreover, since the printed matter output by each application is not assigned a continuous page number, the page order must be changed. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform the sorting manually, and even if only one document is printed, the work is complicated and takes much time. In particular, when a plurality of copies of a document must be prepared, printing and reordering of pages take a great deal of time, thereby lowering work efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to create a virtual document that can be print-controlled collectively when printing a document including a plurality of types of data such as documents, presentation materials, drawings, and the like, thereby improving work efficiency in printing the document. Is to improve.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Display means for displaying identification icons of a plurality of page documents divided in page units in a display area, and selecting and arranging the identification icons in the display area,
Creating means for creating a virtual document that outputs the page documents in the arranged order.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an identification icon of a plurality of page documents divided in page units is displayed on the display area, and the identification icon is selected in the display area. When arranged, the creating means creates a virtual document that outputs the page documents in the order in which the documents are arranged.

Therefore, the operator can create a virtual document that can be collectively controlled by simply arranging the identification icons, without the need to start the application program for each document page, make print settings, and print. The work procedure at the time of document printing can be simplified, and work efficiency can be improved.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first method for displaying identification icons of a plurality of page documents divided in page units.
And display means for forming a second display area for moving and displaying an identification icon of a desired page document selected from within the first display area. Specifying means for selecting an identification icon of a desired page document to specify a desired position in the second display area, and selecting the desired position in the second display area by selecting the desired position in the second display area A preview of the page document corresponding to the identification icon moved to the desired position specified in the step is displayed, and the selection of the identification icon and the specification of the desired position are repeatedly performed for an arbitrary plurality of identification icons by the specifying means. Display control means for arranging and previewing each page document corresponding to the plurality of identification icons in the second display area; Creating means for creating a virtual document that outputs each of the preview-displayed page documents in the order in which the plurality of identification icons are arranged in the second display area by the display control means. And

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first display area for displaying the identification icons of a plurality of page documents divided on a page unit on the display means, and the first display area selected from the first display area. A second display area for moving and displaying the identification icon of the desired page document, and selecting the identification icon of the desired page document from within the first display area by the designating means. When the desired position in the display area is designated, the display control means previews the page document corresponding to the identification icon moved to the designated desired position, and selects and identifies the identification icon by the designation means. When the position is repeatedly specified for any of the plurality of identification icons, each of the plurality of identification icons corresponding to the plurality of identification icons is displayed in the second display area. Preview displayed side by side document creation unit creates a virtual document for outputting the plurality of identification each page document icon is the preview display in ordered sequence to said second display area.

Therefore, the operator does not need to start the application program for each document page, make print settings and print, select a desired identification icon in the first display area, and display the second display icon. It is possible to create a virtual document that can be print-controlled collectively simply by arranging it at a desired position in the area, simplify the work procedure when printing the document, and improve the work efficiency.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 13 are diagrams showing one embodiment of a computer system to which the present invention is applied.

First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a computer system 1 according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a computer system 1
Is composed of a CPU 2, an input device 3, a RAM 4, a display device 5, a printing device 6, a storage device 7, and a storage medium 8. Each part except the storage medium 8 is connected to a bus 9.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2
Expands an application program specified from a system program stored in the storage device 7 and various application programs corresponding to the system into a program storage area (not shown) in the RAM 4 and is input from the input device 3. Various instructions or data are temporarily stored in the RAM 4, various processes are executed in accordance with the application instructions developed in the RAM 4 in accordance with the input instructions and the input data, the processing results are stored in the RAM 4, and the display device is displayed. 5 is displayed. Then, the processing result stored in the RAM 4 is input to the input device 3.
Is stored in the storage destination in the storage device 7 which is instructed by the user.

When printing a document including a plurality of types of data such as documents, presentation materials, and drawings, the CPU 2 performs a document printing process (FIG. 3) described later based on the document printing control conceptual diagram shown in FIG.
See).

That is, when a virtual printer for creating a virtual spool file C to be described later is designated during the document printing process, the CPU 2 calls a virtual printer driver from the storage device 7 and calls the application program AP- When a page to be printed is designated from another document file (document, presentation material, drawing, etc.) for each of the applications AP-1 to AP-3 (hereinafter, referred to as applications AP-1 to AP-3), the application AP-1 to AP-3
A virtual spool page record is created by expanding each other page data into a drawing record for each page, and each virtual spool page record is stored in the spool file folder B by application shown in FIG. Application A as a virtual spool file C in association with
Stored separately for P-1 to AP-3.

Then, the CPU 2 activates the virtual document editor program D shown in FIG. 2, executes a virtual document editing process (see FIG. 6) described later, and displays a virtual document editor screen (see FIG. 7) on the display device 5. The virtual document editor screen is displayed, and a virtual document creation and editing process for creating a virtual document management file E from each virtual spool page record in the virtual spool file C is executed (see FIGS. 8 and 9). A document management file E is created and stored in a virtual document management file folder stored in the storage device 7. In this virtual document management file E,
The editing content corresponding to each virtual spool page record with the name of the document file to be edited is stored as management information.

Further, in the virtual document creation process, when "print preview" is instructed on the virtual document editor screen, the virtual document management file E
Of the specified virtual document page record is displayed as a print preview screen on the virtual document editor screen, and the mask range (output suppression area) is set / released in page units. And information (page) addition range (information addition area) can be set.

When a real printer involved in the actual printing process is designated in the virtual document editing process, the CPU 2 activates the virtual printing control program F shown in FIG. 2 to execute a printing process described later (see FIG. 13). To read out the virtual document page record from the virtual document management file E in page units, read out the corresponding virtual spool page record from the virtual spool file C in page units,
The printer spool file G shown in FIG. 2 is created by converting the virtual spool page record into a printer spool record corresponding to the specified real printer based on the management information set in the virtual document page record. Then, the printer corresponding spool file G is transferred to the printing device 6 to execute the printing process. When the printing is completed, the printer corresponding spool file G is deleted, and the virtual spool file C and the virtual document management file E are stored.

The input device 3 includes a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse provided with a cursor key, numeral input keys, various function keys, and the like.
Output to 2.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 4 is a C
The PU 2 forms a program storage area for expanding various programs when executing the various application programs, and forms a memory area for expanding data, table data, and the like processed when the CPU 2 executes the various processing. .

The display device 5 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e) and the like, and displays a virtual document editor screen, a print preview screen, and the like input from the CPU 2. The printing device 6 prints print data (such as a spool file corresponding to a printer) input from the CPU 2 on predetermined recording paper and outputs the print data.

The storage device 7 has a storage medium 8 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 8 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 8 is fixedly provided in the storage device 7 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 8 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system, a document print processing program, A virtual document editing processing program, a virtual document creation processing program, a print preview processing program, a print processing program, a virtual printer driver program, a real printer driver program, and data processed by each processing program are stored.

This storage device 7, as shown in FIG.
A spool file folder B for each application that stores the virtual spool file C, a virtual document file E, and a spool file G corresponding to the printer are temporarily stored.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 8 may be configured to be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like. A storage device having the storage medium may be provided on the other connected device side, and the program and data stored in the storage medium 8 may be used via a communication line.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, the document printing process executed by the CPU 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the CPU 2 first starts the document printing process when the printing process is instructed from the process menu of the running applications AP-1 to AP-3.
It is determined whether a virtual printer has been designated (step S1). When the virtual printer is designated, the virtual printer driver program is called from the storage device 7 (step S2), and each page data from the document file designated by the running applications AP-1 to AP-3 is shown in FIG. As described above, it is developed into drawing records (data attribute, coordinates, size (format), data) in page units (step S3), and a virtual spool page record is created (step S4).

Then, the CPU 2 creates a virtual spool file C for each created virtual spool page record by using the file name of the document file designated by the application AP-1 to AP-3 (step S5), and the storage device 7 The applications AP-1 to AP-3 are stored in the application-specific spool file folder B stored in the application (step S6), and the process ends.

Therefore, when a virtual printer is specified in the document printing process, no printed matter is output, and only the virtual spool file C is created and stored in the storage device 7.

If no virtual printer is specified in step S1 and a real printer is specified, the CPU 2
Moves to step S7, calls the specified real printer driver program from the storage device 7, and shows each page data from the document file specified by the running applications AP-1 to AP-3 as shown in FIG. As described above, it is developed into drawing records (data attributes, coordinates, size (format), data) on a page basis (step S8), and a printer spool file G corresponding to the designated printer is created (step S9).

Then, the CPU 2 transfers the created printer-compatible spool file to the printing device 6 as the corresponding printer (step S10), outputs the printed matter and confirms the end of printing, and then checks the created printer-compatible spool file from the storage device 7. The spool file is deleted (step S11), and the process ends.

As described in the document printing process, when a virtual printer is specified, as shown in FIG. 5, the virtual spool files C corresponding to the applications AP-1 to AP-3 are stored in document file name units. It is created and stored in the storage device 7. Subsequently, the virtual document editing process using the virtual spool file C is executed by the CPU.
The second is executed.

The virtual document editing process executed by the CPU 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, when the activation of the virtual document editor is instructed from the processing menu of the activated applications AP-1 to AP-3, the CPU 2 starts the virtual document editing process, and the virtual document as shown in FIG. The editor screen 100 is displayed on the display device 5 (step A1).

This virtual document editor screen 100
Then, a rod-shaped splitter 101 for dividing the inside of the virtual document editor screen 100 into left and right, and a virtual spool file C for each application (word processor, presentation, etc.)
The tree view display unit 102 displays the contents of the page as a tree with the contents of the virtual document folder as a virtual document folder, the overview display unit 103 which displays the contents of the virtual document folder moved from the tree view display unit 102, and the overview display unit 103. An overview display frame 104 for identifying and displaying a target page;
Is set.

Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not "new creation" is instructed on the virtual document editor screen 100 from an edit pull-down menu (not shown) (step A2). If "create new" is instructed, the process shifts to virtual document creation and editing processing in step A7. If "create new" is not instructed, as shown in the tree view display section 102 in FIG. (Virtual spool file C)
Is displayed in a tree format in a folder format (step A3).

A desired virtual document folder is selected by a drag and drop operation from the tree view display section 102 to the overview display section 103 (step A).
4) When moved to the overview display unit 103, the CPU 2
As shown in FIG. 7, the contents of the virtual document folder selected in the overview display section 103 are set to the overview display frame 104 and are displayed as an overview (step A5).

Then, the CPU 2 determines whether or not "edit" is instructed from the edit pull-down menu (step A6). If "edit" is not instructed, step A9
When "edit" is instructed, virtual document creation and editing processing is executed (step A). This virtual document creation and editing processing will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 8, the CPU 2 first confirms whether or not an instruction has been input by the operator from the input device 3 (step C1). If there is an instruction, the CPU 2 determines whether the instruction is a drop instruction for a new virtual document folder. It is determined whether or not it is (step C2). If the instruction is not a drop instruction of a new virtual document folder, the process proceeds to step C12. If the instruction is a drop instruction of a new virtual document folder, a virtual document folder to be newly extracted from the tree view display unit 102 in FIG. (Including page contents) and move it to the overview display unit 103 by a drag-and-drop operation (step C3).

Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the newly dropped virtual document folder is a document (document) (step C4), and if it is a document, selects all virtual document page records in the virtual document folder. (Step C5) The corresponding virtual spool page record is read from the virtual spool file C based on the management information of the first virtual document page record, and the page image is read as shown in FIG. With the overview display frame 10 at the drop position
4 is set and displayed (step C6).

Then, the CPU 2 confirms whether or not the image display of all virtual document pages (all virtual spool page records) in the virtual document folder has been completed (step C7). The corresponding next virtual spool page record is read from the virtual spool file C based on the management information of the virtual document page record, and the page image is displayed at the next space position of the drop position together with the page number and the paper size in the overview display frame 104. Is set and displayed (step C8). The processes of steps C7 and C8 are repeatedly executed until the display of all the virtual document pages in the virtual document folder is completed.

If the virtual document folder newly dropped in step C4 is not a document, since it is an image, the CPU 2 determines the virtual spool file C based on the management information of the selected virtual document page.
, The corresponding virtual spool page record is read out, and the page image is read as shown in FIG.
The outline display frame 104 is set and displayed at the drop position together with the paper size (step C9).

When the CPU 2 completes the display processing of all the virtual document pages of the selected document (all the virtual spool page records) or the display of the virtual document page of the selected image (the virtual spool page record), the process proceeds to step C.
At 10, the display position of the image of the other virtual document page (virtual spool page record) being displayed in the overview display unit 103 is corrected.

In the overview display unit 103 shown in FIG. 7, an “explanatory document” virtual document folder is selected from the application “Presentation” in the tree view display unit 102, and the overview set at the drop position in the overview display unit 103 is displayed. Display frame 10
4, the image of the “001” virtual document page (virtual spool page record) has the page number “000”.
1 and the paper size “A4” are displayed in an overview. Also, on the right side of the overview display frame 104, “Techno 98.d” previously selected from the application “word processor”
The image of the “004” virtual document page (virtual spool page record) in the “oc” virtual document folder is
This shows a state in which the page number “0004” and the paper size “A3” are displayed as an overview.

Then, the CPU 2 displays the contents (virtual spool file I) of each virtual spool page record in each virtual document folder displayed in the overview display section 103.
D, the start page, and the end page) are displayed on the overview display unit 103 in the virtual document management file E shown in FIG. 10B stored in the virtual document management file folder shown in FIG. In the storage position corresponding to the position,
The page management information of the virtual document page is inserted and stored (step C11), and the process returns to step C1. That is,
According to the display position of each page image on the overview display unit 103, the storage position of the management information for managing each virtual spool page record included in the virtual document management file E is updated.

If it is determined in step C2 that the instruction is not an instruction to drop a new document folder, the CP
U2 proceeds to step C12 to determine whether or not the page is moved on the overview display unit 103. If the page is not moved, the process proceeds to step C16. If the page is moved, the display position of the target page image is displayed in the virtual document folder being displayed by dragging and dropping the page image in the overview display unit 13. Is performed (step C13), the display positions of the other page images are corrected (step C14). Then, the CPU 2 executes the processing shown in FIG.
The storage position of each page management information in the virtual document management file E stored in the virtual document management file folder shown in (a) and (b) is moved (step C1).
5), returning to the process of step C1.

If it is determined in step C12 that the instruction content is not a page movement on the overview display unit 103, the CPU 2
Goes to step C16 to determine whether or not to delete the page image. Step C1 if the page image is not deleted
When the page image is to be deleted, the display of the page image instructed to be deleted is deleted from the overview display unit 103 (step C17). Then, the CPU 2
Based on the deletion of the page image, FIG.
The page management information of the deleted page is deleted from the virtual document management file E stored in the virtual document management file folder shown in (b) (Step C18), and the process returns to Step C1.

If it is determined in step C19 that the content of the instruction is not to delete the page image, the CPU 2 proceeds to step C19.
The process proceeds to 19 to determine whether a print preview has been instructed. If it is not a print preview instruction, other processing according to the other instruction is executed (step C21),
The process returns to step C1. If the instruction is a print preview instruction, print preview processing of the designated page image is executed.
This print preview process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, the CPU 2 first creates a print preview screen for the designated page (step D1), and displays the print preview screen on the display device 5 (to step D). Next, the presence or absence of an instruction input from the input device 3 by the operator is confirmed (step D3). If there is an instruction input, it is determined whether or not the instruction content is a mask instruction (step D4). If not a mask instruction, CPU 2
Shifts to the process of step D8, and if it is a mask instruction, a mask range is displayed on the print preview screen as shown in FIG. 11A (step D5), and the position and size of the mask range display are set by the operator. (Step D6).

When the position and size of the mask range display are corrected by the operation of the operator, the CPU 2 stores the specified mask range information as the management information of the specified page in the virtual document management file E as shown in FIG. (Step D7), and the process returns to Step D3. FIG.
As shown in (b), the management information of the designated page in the virtual document management file E includes designated mask range information as
“Mask range (X1, Y1) to (X2, Y2)” is added.

If the instruction is not a mask instruction in step D4, the CPU 2 proceeds to the processing in step D8 and determines whether or not a non-mask instruction has been input. If the instruction is not the non-mask instruction, the CPU 2 proceeds to the process of step D12. If the instruction is the non-mask instruction, the CPU 2 selects a mask area set in advance on the print preview screen (step D12).
9), the mask range display is deleted (step D1)
0). Then, the CPU 2 deletes the corresponding mask range information from the management information of the designated page in the virtual document management file E (step D11), and returns to the processing of step D3.

If it is not a non-masking instruction in step D8, the CPU 2 shifts to the processing in step D12 and determines whether or not a page adding instruction has been input. If it is a page addition instruction, the CPU 2 displays the page addition range on the print preview screen as shown in FIG. 11A (step D13), and corrects the position and size of the page addition range display by an operator's operation. (Step D14). When the position and size of the page addition range display are corrected by the operation of the operator, the CPU 2 adds the designated page addition range information to the management information of the designated page in the virtual document management file E (step D15), and The process returns to D3.

If it is not a page addition instruction in step D12, the CPU 2 proceeds to step D16 and determines whether or not an end instruction has been input. If the instruction is an end instruction, the print preview processing is ended. If the instruction is not an end instruction, other processing according to the other instruction is executed (step D17), and the process returns to step D3. When the print preview process ends, the process returns to step C1 in FIG.

As described above, in the virtual document creation and editing processing, it is possible to edit the page configuration of the virtual document page and to set the mask range and the page addition range in the page image. When the virtual document creation and editing process is completed, the process returns to step A8 in FIG.
The virtual document management file E created by the virtual document creation and editing processing is stored in the virtual document management file folder.

Then, the CPU 2 determines whether or not an end instruction has been input (step A9). If the end instruction has been input, the virtual document editing process ends. Is determined (step A10). If the print instruction is not input, the process returns to the virtual document creation / editing process of step A7. If the print instruction is input, the printing device 6 which is an actual printer is designated (step A11), and the print process is executed.

The printing process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, the CPU
2 is “P” as a parameter for managing the number of printed pages.
age ”is set in the RAM 4 and the parameter“ Pa ”
“ge” is set to “1” (step B1). Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not there is an unread virtual document page record in the virtual document management file E designated for printing (step B2). If there is no unread virtual document page record, CPU 2
Shifts to the process of step B14, and if there is an unread virtual document page record, based on the number of virtual document pages in the virtual document management file E,
RA is used as a parameter for managing the start page and the end page.
"N ← start page" and "E ← end page" are set in M4 (step B4).

Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the read page number N of the virtual document page record is equal to or smaller than the end page E (step B5). If the page number N of the read virtual document page record is equal to or smaller than the end page E,
If the page number N of the read virtual document page record is not equal to or less than the end page E, the CPU 2 returns to the process of step B2, and if the page number N is equal to or less than the end page E,
The virtual spool page record of the corresponding N pages is read from the virtual spool file C specified by the virtual spool file ID set in the virtual document page record (step B6).

Then, the CPU 2 converts the read virtual spool page record of N pages into a printer corresponding spool record corresponding to the printing device 6 which is a real printer, and creates a printer corresponding spool file G (step B7).
Further, the CPU 2 checks whether or not mask range information is set in the read virtual document page record of page N (step B8). If the mask range information has not been set, the process proceeds to step B10. If the mask range information has been set, the specified range of the page is masked in accordance with the mask range information. A command corresponding to the printer is created so as to overwrite the range with white (step B9).

When the mask range information is not set in step B8, and after the process in step B9, it is confirmed whether or not page additional information is set in the virtual document page record of page N read out in step B10. I do. If the page additional information has not been set, the process returns to step B5. If the page additional information has been set, a printer-compatible command is created so as to add a page to the designated range (step B11).

Then, the CPU 2 adds "1" to the parameter "Page" set in the RAM 4 in the process of step B1 (step B12), and also adds "1" to the start page N (step B13). , And the process returns to step B5. Returning to step B5, the CPU 2 again determines whether or not the page number N is equal to or less than the end page E, and
Is equal to or less than the end page E, the virtual spool page record of the next N pages is read from the virtual spool file C, and the processes of steps B7 to B13 are repeatedly executed. Therefore, the CPU 2 repeatedly executes the processing of the above steps B6 to B13 until the number of pages N exceeds the end page E, and saves the printer corresponding spool file G created based on the designated virtual document management file in the storage device 7. When the number of pages N exceeds the end page E, the process returns to step B2.

If there is no unread virtual document page record in step B2, the CPU 2
The current printer-compatible spool file G stored in the storage device 7 is transferred to the printing device 6 and printed out (Step B14). The print job is deleted from the storage device 7 (step B15), and the process returns to step A7 in FIG.

As described above, in the computer system 1 according to the present embodiment, printing is performed as one document file including a plurality of types of data (documents and images) created in advance by the plurality of applications AP-1 to AP-3. When doing
By specifying the virtual printer mode by the operator, a virtual spool file that can be collectively managed by selecting a desired document page for each of the applications AP-1 to AP-3 by a drag and drop operation on the virtual document editor screen 100 A virtual document editing function for creating and storing C, and a virtual document management file for managing the change of the page order of each virtual spool page based on the virtual spool file C, the mask setting for each page, and the setting of page additional information. A function of creating and editing a virtual document management file for creating and saving E is provided.

Then, at the time of actual printing, a printer-compatible spool file G corresponding to the real printer is created from the stored virtual spool file C and virtual document management file E, and transferred to the printing device 6 for actual printing. It also has a print processing function for executing and deleting the corresponding printer spool file G after printing.

Therefore, the operator does not need to start the application program for each document page, make print settings and print, select a desired icon in the tree view display section 102, and display the overview display section 103. It is possible to create a virtual document that can be collectively controlled by simply designating and arranging a desired position within the document, simplify the work procedure when printing the document, and improve work efficiency.

Further, by masking the original page number for each virtual spool page and adding new page information, it is possible to easily assign consecutive page numbers, and it is possible to rearrange the page order of the printed matter. Can also be omitted. Furthermore, since the virtual spool page is displayed in the reduced page preview display in the overview display unit 103, the contents of the virtual spool page can be identified and displayed, and the display area in the overview display unit 103 can be effectively used.

In the above embodiment, the virtual document management file E is created by dragging and dropping a virtual document page from the tree view display unit 102 to the overview display unit 103 on the virtual document editor screen 100. However, the virtual document management file may be created by moving and deleting icons on the tree view display unit 102.

In the above embodiment, when creating the virtual document management file E, only the management information is managed and stored, and is independent of the virtual spool file C that stores the actual data. The required pages may be extracted from the spool file and managed and stored for each virtual document.

[0069]

According to the document processing apparatus of the first aspect and the storage medium of the fourth aspect, the operator activates an application program for each document page, performs print setting, and performs printing. By omitting the trouble, a virtual document that can be print-controlled collectively can be created simply by arranging the identification icons, the work procedure at the time of printing the document can be simplified, and the work efficiency can be improved.

According to the document processing apparatus of the invention described in claim 2 and the storage medium of the invention described in claim 5, the operator can start the application program for each document page, make print settings, and perform printing. By omitting, by simply selecting a desired identification icon in the first display area and arranging it at a desired position in the second display area, a virtual document that can be collectively controlled by printing can be created. Procedures can be simplified and work efficiency can be improved.

According to the document processing apparatus of the present invention, the contents of the page document can be identified and displayed, and the display area in the second display area can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a computer system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control concept of a virtual document printing process executed by a CPU 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a document printing process executed by a CPU 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a drawing record developed in the virtual document printing process of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a spool file folder created in the virtual document printing process of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a virtual document editing process executed by CPU 2 of FIG. 1;

7 is a diagram showing a virtual document editor screen displayed in the virtual document editing process of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of a virtual document creation process executed by CPU 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a part of a virtual document creation process following FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a virtual document management file E created in the virtual document creation process of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a virtual document management file E created in the virtual document creation processing of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a print preview process executed by a CPU 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process executed by the CPU 2 of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 computer system 2 CPU 3 input device 4 RAM 5 display device 6 printing device 7 storage device 8 storage medium 9 bus 100 virtual document editor screen 102 tree view display section 103 overview display section B spool file folder by application C virtual spool file D virtual Document editor program E Virtual document management file F Virtual print control program G Printer compatible spool file

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A display means for displaying identification icons of a plurality of page documents divided in page units in a display area; and selecting and arranging the identification icons in the display area, the identification icons are arranged in the arrangement order. A document processing apparatus, comprising: a creation unit that creates a virtual document that outputs each page document. 2. A first display area for displaying identification icons of a plurality of page documents divided in page units, and an identification icon of a desired page document selected from within the first display area is moved. Display means for forming a second display area to be displayed; and designation means for selecting an identification icon of a desired page document from within the first display area and designating a desired position in the second display area. Previewing a page document corresponding to the identification icon selected from within the first display area and moved to a desired position designated in the second display area by the designation means; When the selection of the identification icon and the designation of the desired position are repeatedly performed for an arbitrary plurality of identification icons, the plurality of identification icons are displayed in the second display area. Display control means for arranging and displaying previews of respective page documents corresponding to different icons; and each of the page documents preview-displayed by the display control means in the order in which the plurality of identification icons are arranged in the second display area. A document processing apparatus, comprising: a creation unit that creates a virtual document that outputs a document. 3. The display control device according to claim 2, wherein when the page document corresponding to the identification icon is preview-displayed in the second display area, the page document is displayed in a reduced page preview. 2. The document processing device according to item 2. 4. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program for outputting a document, wherein the display means displays, on a display means, identification icons of a plurality of page documents divided in page units in a display area. Computer-executable program code, and a computer-executable program for creating a virtual document that outputs the page documents in the arranged order by selecting and arranging the identification icons in the display area A storage medium storing a code and a program including: 5. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program for outputting a document, comprising: a first display area for displaying identification icons of a plurality of page documents divided in page units; Computer-executable program code for causing a display to form a second display area for moving and displaying an identification icon of a desired page document selected from the first display area; A computer-executable program code for selecting an identification icon of a desired page document from the display area and designating a desired position in the second display area; and a program code selected from the first display area. Preview the page document corresponding to the identification icon moved to the desired position designated in the second display area. When the display and the selection of the identification icon and the designation of the desired position are repeatedly performed for any of the plurality of identification icons, each page document corresponding to the plurality of identification icons is displayed in the second display area. Computer-executable program code for side-by-side preview display; and creating a virtual document that outputs the preview-displayed page documents in the order in which the plurality of identification icons are arranged in the second display area. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program including a computer-executable program code.