JP2001290617A - Recording medium and computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely stop the transfer of print data after detection by speedily preparing/detecting a print cancel command at printing. SOLUTION: A printer driver 31 makes print data into subfile, prepares a file 71 for writing a print control command and records this file name in a print control command file name 62 of a spool file 60. When a print cancel instruction is received from an operator while printing is being executed, the printer driver 31 writes the print cancel command in the print control command file 71. While the print data are subdivided and transferred to a printer, a print processor 42 monitors the print control command file 71 concerning the print data, and when it is detected the cancel command is written, subsequent printing is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing process in a computer system, and more particularly to a printing process for
The present invention relates to a technique for receiving a print cancel command from an operator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When printing is performed, the output to a printer prevents delays in the completion of calculations by the computer system itself, and it also processes printer output requests from computers connected to a network, arranges the order, and sends the output to the printer. For the purpose of sending data, computer systems usually employ a technique called print spooling.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of processing at the time of printing by a locally connected printer. The print data (data described in the printer control language) generated by the printer driver 231 is sent to a spooler 241 which is one of the modules of the printing system 240 of the operating system. Upon receiving the print data, the spooler 241 temporarily stores the print data in the spool file 260.
And store it on the hard disk. Then, the print processor 242, which is one of the modules of the print system 240, reads the spool file 260 and transfers the spool file 260 to the printer 20.

[0004]

However, once the printing process is started, even if the operator clicks the cancel button to cancel the printing, the cancellation is not executed due to the timing of the computer processing or the like.
There is a problem that prompt cancellation processing cannot be performed. In particular, after the print processor 242 starts transferring the print data to the print 20 after the creation of the spool file 260, the cancellation process is more uncertain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to quickly create and detect a print cancel command at the time of printing, and to reliably stop the transfer of print data after the detection.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer driver for generating print data for controlling a printer in accordance with a print command from an operator, wherein the printer driver is installed. A print processor that can be used in a computer determines whether transfer control to a printer can be performed according to unique print data that can be created by the printer driver. A print processor can create the printer driver. If it is determined that print control to the printer can be performed according to the unique print data, the print data is divided into one or a plurality of data, and information for identifying the data is included in each data. And a means for recording these as a file, and specifying the file Data including order information, to provide a printer driver and having a means for creating separately from the file.

According to the present invention, there is provided a print processor for reading a print spool file and controlling transfer to a printer, wherein the print spool file includes information for specifying one or a plurality of files including print data. Determining means for determining whether or not the print spool file includes the print data, if the print spool file is determined to include information for identifying one or more files, read the print spool file, There is also provided a print processor comprising: means for referring to information for specifying the file; and means for reading the specified file and outputting print data included in the file.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a computer system that performs printing with a locally connected printer.

First, the configuration of a computer system according to this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the computer system. In the figure, a computer main body 10 includes a CPU 11 and an image control device 12.
, A main storage device 13, an external storage device 14, an input / output control device 15, an interface 16, and a bus 17 connecting these components.

The CPU 11 is a device that performs central control of a computer, and has a function of decoding and executing various instructions stored in a main storage device. Image control device 1
2 performs an operation for generating an image and the like. The main storage device 13 has a function of temporarily storing data, software, an operating system, and the like handled by the computer. The external storage device 14 is a storage device having a readable and writable recording medium such as a hard disk, and stores software, temporary files, and the like. The input / output control device 15 receives instructions from the operator and controls when data is output to an externally connected device. The interface 16 mediates connection with a peripheral device such as the printer 20. The bus 17 is a line through which signals such as addresses and data flow.

A mouse 18, a keyboard 19, and a printer body 20 are connected to the computer body 10 via an interface 16. The mouse 17 and keyboard accept input from a computer operator. The printer main body 20 receives print data from the computer 10 and executes printing.

The configuration of the computer system is not limited to this configuration.

Next, an outline of the flow of print data when a print command of application software such as a word processor and graphics is executed will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, application software 50, printer driver 31, print system 4
Reference numeral 0 denotes software, which is stored in the main storage device 13. The CPU 11 refers to these software programs,
The processing shown in FIG. The application software 50 is a program running on the computer 10. Upon receiving a print command from the operator, the application software 50 generates the drawing data 5 of the print target.
1 (mainly a data format for image output) is sent to the printer driver 31.

The printer driver 31 develops the sent drawing data 51 into print data 52 (data described in a printer control language) and sends it to the print system 40.

The print system 40 temporarily stores the transmitted print data 52 in the external storage device 14. After that, the stored print data 52 is sent to the printer 20, and the printing process of the computer main body 10 ends.

The printer 20 receiving the print data 52
Executes printing.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the outline of the configuration and processing of this embodiment. In the figure, a spooler 41 and a print processor 42 are software modules constituting the print system 40. The spooler 41 stores the data sent from the printer driver 31 and received by the print system 41 in the external storage device 14.
To be stored. The print processor 42 reads the stored print data and sends it to the printer 20. Print processor 42 is typically provided as part of an operating system, but it is also possible to develop and use proprietary ones.

An outline of the processing in the present embodiment performed by the above configuration will be described.

When the printer driver 31 generates print data, the printer driver 31 stores the print data in a subfile 70 described later.
And stored in the external storage device 14. Then, the file name of the sub file 70 and the file name of the print control command file 71 are sent to the spooler 41. here,
The print control command file 71 is a file created by the printer driver 31 in the external storage device 14 or the like to write a command for controlling the printer, for example, a cancel command.

When the spooler 41 receives these, the sub-file name 61 and the file name 62 of the print control command file are used as the spool file 60 as the spool file 60 and the external storage device 14.
To be stored.

The print processor 42 refers to the sub file name 61 from the spool file 60 and sequentially opens the corresponding sub file 70. Then, the sub-file 70 is read, the print data is reconstructed, and sent to the printer 20. Then, the sub file 70 corresponding to the print data sent to the printer 20 is sequentially deleted. Further, the print processor 42 outputs
With reference to the print control command file name 62, the corresponding print control command file 71 is monitored.

Next, the operation of the printer driver 31 in this embodiment will be described in detail. The printer driver 31 checks whether the print processor 42 is capable of performing the printing process according to the present invention, and if so, performs the following process. If not possible, perform conventional processing. The determination as to whether the print processor 42 is capable of performing the print processing according to the present invention is performed by, for example, attaching an identification code to the print processor 42 capable of performing the print processing according to the present invention, and Is detected, it can be realized by determining that the printing process according to the present invention is possible.

In response to a print command from the user, the printer driver 31 that has started printing processing for a certain job,
Identification data indicating that a printing process according to the present invention is performed;
The file name of the print control command file is sent to the spooler 41. Note that a job refers to a unit of print processing performed by one print command. The number of pages to be printed and the number of copies are not limited.

Next, the printer driver 31 processes the print data, divides the print data into a plurality of subfiles 70, and stores them in the external storage device 14. Then, the file name of the sub file is sent to the spooler 41.

Here, a process in which the printer driver 31 processes print data and divides it into a plurality of subfiles 70 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the subfile 70. As shown in FIG.
Is composed of a header 71, a main body 72, and a footer 73. The main unit 72 further includes a packet unit (72
a, 72b,...) (this drawing (b)).

The header section 71 is used for identifying the type of the sub file 70 and the like. Packet part (72a, 72b,
..) Include a code for identifying the start of a job, a code for identifying the start of a page, print data, and the like. The footer unit 73 is used to identify the end of the sub file.

The header section 71, the footer section 73, and the packet sections (72a, 72b,...) Have a common format as shown in FIG. Packet part 72a
Has a variable length and includes a packet size section 721, a packet code section 722, a packet ID section 723, and a packet data section 724.

The packet size section 721 stores the data size of the packet data 72a. The packet code section 722 stores a code indicating the type of the packet. The packet ID section 723 stores a code for identifying the data type of the packet data 72a (the data type in the packet type). The packet data section 724 stores the data body.

The configuration of the print control command file 71 is the same as that of the subfile 70 described above.
Both are identified by the contents of the header section 71.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a process in which the printer driver 31 divides the print data 52 into sub files 70. In this figure, 70a, 70b, 70c
Is a subfile. Each subfile is
The header part (71a, 71b, 71c) and the footer part (7
3a, 73b, 73c) and a packet section (72a, 72b,...) As a main body.

The printer driver 31 converts the print data into
It is decomposed into packets, some packets are combined, and a header and a footer are added to form a subfile. The unit for decomposing into packets is at least one packet for printing commands such as job start and page start, but the other print data can be of any size.
In addition, the unit in which the packets are combined into one subfile is also arbitrary. However, changing the arrangement order of the print data is not allowed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the subfile 70 created by the printer driver 31 and the spool file 60 created by the spooler 41 by sending a file name from the printer driver 31 to the spooler 41. 2) and (b). In each case, the print control command file name 61 stores the file name of the print control command file 71.

FIG. 4A shows a method of storing all the file names of the created subfiles in a spool file. In this figure, the spool file 60 is composed of a print control command file name 61, a subfile name 1, a subfile name 2 (62a, 62b ...).

FIG. 4B shows a method of holding a representative file name of the created sub-file in a spool file. In the figure, the spool file 60 includes a print control command file name 61 and a sub file name 62. .. Can be sequentially specified by referring to the subfile name 62.

Next, a process when the printer driver 31 receives a cancel command instructed by the user will be described.

When receiving the print cancel command from the user, the printer driver 31 writes a printer control command indicating cancellation into the print control command file 71 separately from the print data. Therefore, it is possible to quickly create a cancel command command.

Next, the operation of the print processor 42 in the embodiment will be described in detail.

When the print processor 42 receives a print command from the print system 40, the print processor 42 checks whether or not the spool file 60 has identification data indicating that print processing according to the present invention is being performed. When the identification data is detected, the following processing is performed. The identification data is sent from the printer driver 31 that has performed this processing to the spooler 41, and the spooler 41
It is written in 0.

The print processor 42 refers to the spool file 60 and acquires a sub file name 61 and a print control command file name 62. The print processor 42 opens the sub-file 70 corresponding to the first file name of the sub-file name 61 and reads it in packet units (including the header 71 and the footer 73). Then, the packet data section 724 which is print data is sequentially
Send to printer 20.

When the print processor 42 reads the footer 73, the read subfile is closed, the subfile 70 corresponding to the file name following the subfile name 61 is opened, and the same processing is performed. At the same time, the first subfile that has been read is deleted. As a result, the disk capacity of the external storage device can be saved. Hereinafter, this process is repeated until the end of the print data.

When the print processor 42 reads the job end packet, it ends printing, closes the last subfile 70, and deletes it.

When the first subfile is created, the print processor 42 can start data to the printer without waiting for the subfile of the entire job to be completed. Time can be reduced.

The print processor 42 monitors the print control command file 71 every time a file is read in packet units. Then, the print control command file 7
When it is detected that the print control command file 71 has been updated due to an increase in the file size of No. 1, the print control command file 71 is read.

As a result of the reading, if a print cancel command has been added to the print control command file 71, the transfer of subsequent packets to the printer 20 is stopped, and a page end command and a job end command are sent to the printer 20. , End printing.

By this print canceling process, cancel detection can be performed for each packet process, and printing can be stopped without transferring a packet after the detection to the printer 20.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, at the time of printing, it is possible to quickly create and detect a print cancel command, and to reliably stop the transfer of print data after the detection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration and processing of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a sub file.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a process of dividing print data into sub files.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the relationship between a spool file and a sub file.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a computer system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a flow of print data.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of processing at the time of printing by a locally connected printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer main body, 20 ... Printer, 31 ... Printer driver, 40 ... Print system, 41 ... Spooler, 42 ... Print processor, 60 ... Spool file, 70 ... Subfile, 71 ... Print control command file.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH01 HJ06 HK05 HN05 HN22 2C087 AB05 BC02 BD01 BD42 CB02 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB10 CC06

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A process for creating print data for controlling a printer in accordance with a print instruction from a computer operator, and a print processor usable by the computer includes:
A process for determining whether transfer control to a printer can be performed according to print data created by the computer; and a print processor capable of controlling print to a printer according to print data created by the printer driver. When it is determined that there is, the computer executes a process of creating a file for recording a command for controlling the printer, and a process of creating data including information for specifying the file separately from the file. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute is recorded. 2. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the command for controlling the printer in the program includes a cancel command for stopping printing. 3. A computer having means for creating print data for controlling a printer in accordance with a print command from a computer operator, means for creating a file for recording a command for controlling the printer, and specifying the file. Means for creating data including information for performing the processing separately from the file. 4. A process for reading a print spool file containing information for specifying a file containing print data and information for specifying a file recording a command for controlling the printer, and controlling transfer to the printer. Reading a file containing print data specified by the print spool file, and outputting the print data; and determining whether a file that records a command for controlling the printer specified by the print spool file has been updated. A process for determining during reading of a file including print data specified by the print spool file; and a process for determining whether a file that records a command for controlling a printer specified by the print spool file is updated. Spool file More reads the file containing the commands for controlling the printer to be identified, and a process of outputting a command for controlling the printer, recorded computer-readable recording medium a program for causing a computer to execute. 5. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the command for controlling the printer in the program includes a cancel command for stopping printing. 6. A means for creating a file for recording a command for controlling a printer, a means for creating a file containing print data, a means for reading the file containing print data and outputting print data, Means for determining whether a file for recording a command for controlling the printer has been updated, while reading the file containing the print data, and determining that the file for recording the command for controlling the printer has been updated, Means for reading a file recording a command for controlling the printer and outputting a command for controlling the printer.