JP2000351247A - Apparatus and method for controlling printing output, and recording medium readable by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the detailed layout for each page easily in printing the content of a plurality of pages side by side on a printing paper. SOLUTION: This printing apparatus is provided with a software 10 comprising a module 14 having the function of displaying a printing image with a plurality of pages to be printed on a printing paper side by side, laid out according to layout information on a display device, modules 13, 15 having the function of renewing the layout information, or the like, assembled in a computer system as a part of a printer driver 11. Accordingly, a user can set the detailed layout for each page on the printer driver 11 while observing a printing preview displayed on the display device, and thus the layout can be set extremely easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print output control apparatus and a print output control method for outputting the contents of a file created by application software to a printing apparatus, and a printing apparatus for printing the contents of a file created by application software. The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for outputting to a computer is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printer connected to a computer is controlled by a printer driver. For example, when printing a file such as image data and document data created by application software with a printer, a printer driver stored in, for example, a hard disk drive is called. The printer driver converts the data of the file to be printed into print data suitable for the printer, supplies the print data to the printer, and generates a print control signal for controlling the printer according to the setting of the user. A print control signal is supplied to the printer. The operation of the printer is controlled based on a print control signal supplied from the printer driver, and the printer prints and outputs the contents of the file such as the image data and the document data according to the user's settings.

Specifically, when an instruction to print a file is input by a user, a printer driver is started, and a setting screen for performing settings related to printing is displayed on a monitor. On this setting screen, the user sets, for example, the size of paper to be printed, the number of pages to be printed, the number of copies, and the like. When printing the contents of a plurality of pages side by side on one sheet of printing paper, the user can specify the number of pages to be printed side by side on one sheet of printing paper and the direction in which the pages are lined up on the setting screen of the printer driver Set. When the user inputs an instruction to execute printing after making various settings on the setting screen of the printer driver, the contents of the file are output from the printer in accordance with the settings of the user.

[0004]

By the way, for example, paper having a plurality of seal areas which are separated and used as seals or labels (hereinafter referred to as seal paper) or the like is used as print paper, and each of the seal papers is used. When printing is performed by allocating the contents of a plurality of pages to the seal area, it is necessary to print the contents of each page accurately positioned in a predetermined seal area of the seal paper.

However, in the setting screen of the conventional printer driver, only the number of pages to be printed on one print sheet and the direction in which the pages are arranged can be set, and the layout of each page can be set in detail. I couldn't.

For this reason, how to assign a plurality of pages to one print sheet is set in detail, such as when assigning the contents of a plurality of pages to a plurality of seal areas of a sticker sheet for printing. If you need to
After setting the layout of each page using an application program that allows detailed layout settings, it is necessary to start the printer driver and execute printing.
The work was complicated.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a print output control apparatus and a print output control capable of easily setting the detailed layout of each page when printing the contents of a plurality of pages on one print sheet. Provided is a method and a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for easily setting detailed layout of each page when arranging the contents of a plurality of pages on one print sheet is printed. The purpose is to:

[0008]

A print output control device according to the present invention converts file data created by application software into print data recognizable by a printing device, and supplies the printing data to the printing device. And a print output control means for causing the printing device to output the contents of the file, and a layout of each page to be printed when a plurality of pages of the file are printed on one print sheet of the printing device. Storage means for storing layout information. In this print output control device, the print control means is configured such that when printing a plurality of pages of the file on one print sheet of the printing device, each page to be printed is allocated according to the layout information. Display control means for displaying a print image on a display device; layout information updating means for accepting an input from a user and updating the layout information based on the input; And data conversion means for converting the data of each page to be printed into print data recognizable by the printing apparatus based on the layout information when printing on the print paper.

In this print output control device, when a plurality of pages of a file are printed on one print sheet of the print device, a print image is displayed on the display device by display control means of the print output control means. You. In the print image, each page to be printed is allocated according to the layout information stored in the storage unit.

Here, when the user wants to change the layout of each page to be printed, an instruction to change the layout is input from the user to the layout information updating means of the print output control means. The layout information updating means receives an input from the user and updates the layout information stored in the storage means based on the input.

When the layout information is updated by the layout information updating means, the display control means causes the display device to display a new print image in which each page to be printed is allocated according to the updated layout information.

The data of each page to be printed is converted into print data recognizable by the printing apparatus by the data conversion means of the print output control means based on the layout information stored in the storage means. When the print data is supplied to the printing apparatus, a plurality of pages of the file are printed on one print sheet and output from the printing apparatus.

According to the print output control device of the present invention,
The user can grasp the layout of each page to be printed by viewing the print image displayed on the display device by the display control means of the print output control means. If it is desired to change the layout, the layout information is updated by the layout information updating means of the print output control means by inputting an instruction to that effect, and the layout of each page can be changed. As described above, the print output control device according to the present invention converts the data of the file to be printed into print data, supplies the print data to the print device, and prints out the contents of the file to the print device. Since the display of the image and the change of the layout are performed, the user can easily set the detailed layout of each page when the contents of the plurality of pages are arranged and printed on one print sheet.

Further, a print output control method according to the present invention is characterized in that:
Converts file data created by application software to print data that can be recognized by the printing device,
When the print data is supplied to the printing apparatus and the printing apparatus outputs the contents of the file, when printing a plurality of pages of the file on one printing sheet of the printing apparatus, the pages are allocated. When a plurality of pages of the file are printed on one print sheet of the printing apparatus, a print image in which each page is allocated according to the layout information is displayed. When the user instructs to change the layout information, the layout information is updated in accordance with the instruction, and a print image corresponding to the updated layout information is displayed on the display device. Display, and converts the data of each page to be printed into print data recognizable by the printing apparatus based on the layout information. It is characterized in that.

According to this print output control method, when printing a plurality of pages of a file on one print sheet of a printing apparatus, the user looks at the print image displayed on the display device and prints each page. The assignment can be grasped. When the user wants to change the layout, the user inputs an instruction to that effect to update the layout information, sees the print image corresponding to the updated layout information on the display device, and changes the new image. The assignment status can be grasped.

Therefore, according to the print output control method of the present invention, when printing the contents of a plurality of pages side by side on one sheet of printing paper, the user easily sets the detailed layout of each page. be able to.

Further, a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention converts file data created by application software into print data recognizable by a printing apparatus, and supplies the print data to the printing apparatus. When printing a plurality of pages of the file on a single print sheet of the printing apparatus on a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing the printing apparatus to output the content of the file, Refer to the layout information for page layout,
A display control module having a function of creating a print image in which each page is allocated according to the layout information and displaying the print image on a display device;
A layout information update module having a function of receiving an input from a user and updating the layout information based on the input; and a printing method for printing a plurality of pages of the file on one print sheet of the printing apparatus. And a data conversion module having a function of converting the data of each page to be printed into print data recognizable by the printing apparatus based on the layout information.

Using the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium, the contents of a plurality of pages of the file created by the application software are arranged and printed on one sheet of printing paper. Detailed assignment settings can be made easily.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made as necessary.

FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of a computer system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the computer system 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 2, a read only memory (RAM) 3 as an internal storage device, and a hard disk drive (HDD) as an external storage device. 4, a display device 5, an input device 6, and a printing device 7.

The CPU 2 has a function of executing various programs using the RAM 3 as a work area. The RAM 3 temporarily stores programs and data being executed by the CPU 2. The HDD 4 has a function of storing an operating system (OS), application software, various device drivers, and the like.

The display device 5 is, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ra).
y Tube) and a liquid crystal display device. The input device 6 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The display device 5 and the input device 6 exchange data between a user and the computer system 1. The printing device 7 has a function of printing and outputting the contents of a file created by, for example, application software. The hardware constituting the computer system 1 is in a state where data can be transferred via the bus 8.

FIG. 2 shows a software configuration for realizing the present invention in the computer system 1 configured as described above. The software 10 shown in FIG.
Is configured as a part of a printer driver 11 that controls the print output of the printing apparatus 7, and is stored in, for example, the HDD 4. And this software 10 is C
Called from the HDD 4 by the PU 2 and executed by the CPU 2. The software 10 can be incorporated in the computer system 1 as a program recorded on a recording medium.

As shown in FIG. 2, the software 10 includes a layout information file 12, a layout information change function module 13 by operating screen display / keyboard input, a print image display function module 14, and a layout information change function by mouse input. Function module 15
And a data conversion function module 16.

The layout information file 12 is used when printing a plurality of pages of a file created by application software on one printing sheet of the printing apparatus 7.
This is an information file for allocating each page to be printed, and is stored in the HDD 4 or the RAM 3. The layout information file 12 stores, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, where each page is arranged in a Page_Pos structure corresponding to the number of pages to be printed. The image of each page, page width, vertical and horizontal layout information, etc. are CPageIma
The ge class has this information, which can be obtained by calling an appropriate member function.

When a command for printing a plurality of pages of a file created by application software on a single print sheet of the printing apparatus 7 is executed, the layout information change function module 13 by operating screen display / keyboard input is executed. The information file 12 is accessed to obtain necessary layout information, and based on the layout information, an operation screen 21 as shown in FIG.
To be displayed. The operation screen 21 displays layout information necessary for layout of each page to be printed by numerical values. When a user changes layout of each page, the user uses the keyboard as the input device 6. It allows the user to directly input numerical values.

The layout information change function module 13 using the operation screen display / keyboard input, when the user inputs a numerical value to the operation screen 21 using the keyboard in order to change the layout of each page, performs this input. At the same time, the layout information file 12 is accessed and the layout information is updated based on the input from the user.

Further, when the layout information of the layout information file 12 is updated, the layout information changing function module 13 using the operation screen display / keyboard input displays a new operation screen 21 based on the updated layout information. 5 is displayed.

The print image display function module 14 includes:
When a command to print a plurality of pages of the file created by the application software on one print sheet of the printing apparatus 7 is executed, the layout information file 12
To obtain the required layout information, and based on the layout information, causes the display device 5 to display a print image 22 as shown in FIG. This print image 2
Numeral 2 represents the layout of each page to be printed in the form of a preview of an actual printed matter, and is displayed.
When the user changes the layout of each page, the user performs a drag-and-drop operation using the mouse as the input device 6 to change the layout while grasping the state when the printed matter is actually output. Has been made able to do so.

The print image display function module 1
When the layout information of the layout information file 12 is updated, the display device 4 displays a new print image 22 based on the updated layout information on the display device 5.

When the user performs a drag-and-drop operation using the mouse on the print image 22 in order to change the layout of each page, the layout information change function module 15 by mouse input accepts the input and The layout information file 12 is accessed to update the layout information based on the input from the user.

When a command for printing a plurality of pages of a file created by application software on one print sheet of the printing apparatus 7 is executed, the data conversion function module 16 accesses the layout information file 12 and Then, based on this layout information, the data of each page to be printed is converted into print data recognizable by the printing apparatus 7 based on the layout information.

The software 10 configured as described above
Is activated, for example, a screen as shown in FIG.
This is called a preview screen 20. ) Is displayed. This figure 4
Are displayed on the operation screen 21 of the software 10 and the print image display function module 14 of the software 10.
, A “OK” command button 23 and a “CANCEL” command button 24
It is composed of

As described above, the operation screen 21 displays the layout information in the form of numerical values. Each numerical value displayed on the operation screen 21 can be changed by a user's keyboard input.

As described above, the print image 22 displays the layout of each page to be printed in the form of a preview of an actual printed matter. The print image 22 can be changed by a user performing a drag-and-drop operation using a mouse.

The "OK" command button 23 is for generating a print start event. When the user clicks the "OK" command button 23 with a mouse, the contents displayed on the operation screen 21 and the print image 22 are displayed. Thus, the printing apparatus 7 starts printing.

The "CANCEL" command button 24
When the user clicks the "CANCEL" command button 24 with a mouse, the preview screen 20 is closed and, for example, an application window is displayed.

Here, the computer system 1
An example of an operation for printing a plurality of pages of a file created by application software on one print sheet of the printing apparatus 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the user instructs to print a plurality of pages of the file created by the application software on one print sheet of the printing device 7 (ST
1) The preview screen 20 is displayed on the display device 5 (ST2).

When the preview screen 20 is displayed on the display device 5, the user refers to the preview screen 20 to determine whether the layout of each page to be printed is as desired (ST3). Then, if it is determined that the layout of each page to be printed is not as desired,
The user determines whether to change the assignment on the operation screen 21 (ST4).

The user can change the assignment on the operation screen 21.
If it is determined that the assignment is to be performed, various numerical values are input to the operation screen 21 using the keyboard to change the assignment (ST).
5). Then, returning to ST3, the changed preview screen 20 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the changed assignment is as desired. On the other hand, when the user determines that the assignment is not changed on the operation screen 21,
It is determined whether or not the change of the layout is performed on the print image 22 (ST6).

If the user determines that the assignment is to be changed using the print image 22, the user performs a drag and drop operation of the mouse on the print image 22 to change the assignment (ST7). Then, returning to ST3, the changed preview screen 20 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the changed assignment is as desired. On the other hand, if the user determines that the layout is not changed on the operation screen 21, the process returns to ST <b> 3 without changing the layout, and the layout of each page to be printed is determined as desired by referring to the preview screen 20. Determine again if it is.

If it is determined in ST3 that the layout of each page to be printed is as desired, the user determines whether to perform printing with the layout displayed on the preview screen 20 (ST8). If the user determines that printing is to be performed, the user clicks the “OK” command button 23 with a mouse. Thus, printing by the printing device 7 is started, and a print result is output (S
T9). On the other hand, if the user determines that printing is not to be performed, the user clicks the “CANCEL” command button 24 with the mouse. As a result, the printing process is stopped (S
T10).

Next, the operation of each of the functional modules 13, 14, 15, and 16 of the software 10 shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS.
Each functional module 13, 14, 1 of the software 10
5 and 16 operate according to the occurrence event. Various events use a message transmission / reception function.

When the user inputs a numerical value using the keyboard on the operation screen 21 of the preview screen 20, a user input event occurs as shown in FIG. 6 (ST1).
1). The user input event is a message about the user input sent from the GUI system of the operating system (OS). When a user input event occurs, the layout information change function module 13 using the operation screen display / keyboard input acquires an input value input to the operation screen 21 (ST12). Then, the layout information change function module 13 through the operation screen display / keyboard input updates the predetermined layout information of the layout information file 12 according to the obtained input value (ST13). As a result, a layout change event occurs (ST14).

As shown in FIG. 7, when a layout change event occurs, the layout information change function module 13 by operation screen display / keyboard input reads the updated layout information from the layout information file 12 (ST15). An operation screen 12 corresponding to the updated layout information is displayed on the display device 5 (ST1).
6).

The print image display function module 14
As shown in FIG. 8, when a layout change event occurs, the updated layout information is read from the layout information file 12 (ST17), and the print image 22 corresponding to the updated layout information is displayed on the display device 5 (ST18). ).

When the user positions the mouse pointer on the print image 22 on the preview screen 20 and presses the mouse button, a drag start event occurs as shown in FIG. 9 (ST19). When a drag start event occurs, the layout information change function module 15 based on mouse input specifies the page pointed by the mouse pointer as a drag target, and the drag flag internally held by the layout information change function module 15 based on mouse input. And record the drag target (ST2).
0).

When the user moves the mouse while holding down the mouse button, a mouse movement event is generated from the GUI system of the operating system (OS) as shown in FIG. 10 (ST21). When the mouse movement event occurs, the layout information change function module 15 by mouse input checks whether the drag flag is ON (ST22). If the drag flag is ON, a new position of the page to be dragged is calculated from the position where the mouse pointer has moved (ST23), and the user is informed that the layout has been changed. Therefore, while the drag is being performed, the shadow of the page to be dragged is displayed on the print image 22 (ST24). On the other hand, when the drag flag is not ON, the drag is not performed (ST25).

When the user releases the mouse button, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the operating system (OS) GU
A drag end event occurs from the I system (ST
26). When the drag end event occurs, the layout information change function module 15 by mouse input calculates a new position of the page to be dragged (ST2).
7) Based on this information, the layout information file 1
The second predetermined layout information is updated (ST28). As a result, a layout change event occurs (ST2).
9).

When the user inputs an instruction to print a plurality of pages on one print sheet of the printing apparatus 7 by, for example, selecting the “OK” command button 23 on the preview screen 20, FIG. As shown in (1), for example, a print start event occurs from the GUI system of the operating system (OS) (ST30). When the print start event occurs, the data conversion function module 16 accesses the layout information file and acquires layout information necessary for printing (ST31). Then, the data conversion function module 16 converts the data of each page to be printed into print data recognizable by the printing device 7 based on the acquired layout information (ST32).

The computer system 1 according to the present invention comprises:
Each of the functional modules 13, 14, 1 operating as described above
When the software 10 having the files 5 and 16 is incorporated, when a plurality of pages of the file created by the application software are printed side by side on one sheet of printing paper of the printing apparatus 7, detailed allocation of each page is performed. Setting can be performed very easily. That is, by using the computer system 1, the user can check the actual allocation state by looking at the print image 22 on the preview screen 20 displayed on the display device 5. Then, when it is desired to change the layout, a drag and drop operation of the mouse is performed on the print image 22 of the preview screen 20 or a numerical value is input to the operation screen 21 of the preview screen 20 using a keyboard. This makes it possible to change the assignment very easily. Also, the changed assignment state is displayed on the print image 22, so that the user
The layout setting can be made in detail while checking the layout state again by looking at the print image 22.

In the computer system 1, the software 10 having the above functional modules 13, 14, 15, and 16 is configured as a part of the printer driver 11 that controls the printing output of the printing device 7. If, for example, how to assign each page is determined in advance, such as when using sticker paper as printing paper, if the user sets in advance information such as sticker paper used as printing paper, The information is recorded as layout information by the printer driver 11. Therefore, according to the computer system 1, unlike the case where the layout information is stored as a document of the application software, the layout information can be shared and appropriately printed on a sticker or the like when the content of the file of any application software is printed. The contents of each page can be printed.

Further, in the computer system 1, the software 10 having the above-described functional modules 13, 14, 15, and 16 is configured as a part of the printer driver 11, so that the user can specify the details of each page to be printed. Since the setting of the layout can be performed on the printer driver 11 in detail, unlike the case of setting the detailed layout of each page to be printed on the application software, each page to be printed on the application software is different. If a number is assigned, each page can be automatically printed on a seal area or the like of a sticker sheet corresponding to the number.

In the computer system 1, the software 10 having the above-described functional modules 13, 14, 15, and 16 is configured as a part of the printer driver 11. Even if a plurality of pages of a file created by application software that cannot be printed are printed on one print sheet of the printing device 7, detailed allocation of each page to be printed can be performed without using any special application software. Can be set on the printer driver 11 and printing can be performed appropriately.

[0056]

As described above, according to the print output control apparatus of the present invention, the data of a file to be printed is converted into print data, supplied to the print apparatus, and the contents of the file are output to the print apparatus. As a function of the print output control unit, display of a print image and change of layout are performed. Therefore, when printing the contents of a plurality of pages side by side on one print sheet, the user sets detailed layout of each page. Can be easily performed. Further, according to the print output control method of the present invention, when printing the contents of a plurality of pages side by side on one sheet of printing paper, the user can easily set the detailed layout of each page. .

Further, using a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention, the contents of a plurality of pages of a file created by application software are arranged and printed on one sheet of printing paper. If this is the case, detailed layout settings for each page can be made easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a software configuration incorporated in the computer system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a file configuration of a layout information file.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a preview screen displayed on a display device by executing the software.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation performed when a user performs printing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a layout information change function module based on an operation screen display / keyboard input of the software.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the layout information change function module based on the operation screen display / keyboard input of the software.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a print image display function module of the software.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the layout information change function module by mouse input of the software.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a layout information change function module by a mouse input of the software.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a layout information change function module by mouse input of the software.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a data conversion function module of the software.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 computer system, 2 CPU, 3 RAM,
4 HDD, 5 display device, 6 input device, 7 printing device, 10 software, 11 printer driver, 1
2 layout information file, 13 layout information change function module by operation screen display / keyboard input, 14 print image display function module, 15 layout information change function module by mouse input, 1
6. Data conversion function module

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Converting data of a file created by application software into print data recognizable by a printing apparatus, supplying the print data to the printing apparatus, and causing the printing apparatus to output the contents of the file. Print output control means; and storage means for storing layout information for allocating each page to be printed when a plurality of pages of the file are printed on one print sheet of the printing apparatus; The output control means, when printing a plurality of pages of the file on one print sheet of the printing device, displays on a display device a print image in which each page to be printed is allocated according to the layout information. Control means, and layout information for receiving an input from a user and updating the layout information based on the input. Updating means for converting the data of each page to be printed into print data recognizable by the printing device based on the layout information when a plurality of pages of the file are printed on one printing sheet of the printing device. A print output control device, comprising: a data conversion unit. 2. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display device displays an operation screen on which a user can input data to change the layout information, together with the print image. Item 2. The print output control device according to Item 1. 3. Converting data of a file created by application software into print data recognizable by a printing apparatus, supplying the print data to the printing apparatus, and causing the printing apparatus to output the contents of the file. At this time, when printing a plurality of pages of the file on one print sheet of the printing apparatus, layout information for allocating each page to be printed is stored, and the plurality of pages of the file are stored in the printing apparatus. When printing on one sheet of printing paper, a print image in which each page to be printed is allocated according to the layout information is displayed on a display device, and the user is instructed to change the layout information. And updates the layout information in accordance with this instruction, and prints in accordance with the updated layout information. A print output control method comprising: displaying an image on the display device; and converting data of each page to be printed into print data recognizable by the printing device based on the layout information. 4. An operation screen on which a user can input data to change the layout information,
4. The print output control method according to claim 3, wherein the print image is displayed together with the print image on the display device. 5. Converting data of a file created by application software into print data recognizable by a printing apparatus, supplying the print data to the printing apparatus, and causing the printing apparatus to output the contents of the file. When printing a plurality of pages of the file on one print sheet of the printing apparatus, refer to layout information for allocating each page to be printed on a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for recording is recorded. And a display control module having a function of creating a print image in which each page to be printed is allocated according to the layout information and displaying the print image on a display device. Layout information update having a function of updating the layout information based on an input And a function of converting data of each page to be printed into print data recognizable by the printing device based on the layout information when a plurality of pages of the file are printed on one printing sheet of the printing device. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program having a data conversion module having a program is recorded. 6. The display control module has a function of displaying an operation screen on which a user can input data to make a change to the layout information on the display device together with the print image. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 5, wherein: