JP2002192794A - Information processor, information processing system, print processing method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system in which print processing can be performed easily regardless of the limit of an output sheet size which can be defined by a user while adding a page frame effectively. SOLUTION: Input means 209 and 210 input a first arbitrary output sheet size included in a second specified output sheet size (which can be dealt with by a printer 300). A layout means 201 lays out a plurality of pages of the first output sheet size for one page of the second output sheet size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus or a system for processing print data in an information processing apparatus on the host side such as a personal computer and printing the processed print data with a printer. Information processing apparatus, information processing system, print processing method,
The present invention relates to a storage medium storing computer-readable processing steps for executing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a host-side information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a user can freely reduce a plurality of pages by a print processing method in which print data is once spooled and the appearance is processed. 1
It is possible to create print data for performing Nup printing, which is arranged on a physical sheet of a page and perform printing, or to add a page frame to print data that has been reduced in layout for Nup printing.

An OS or a printer driver started by the information processing apparatus provides a configuration in which a user can define an output paper size, thereby enabling printing on a paper size suitable for the user's preference. For example, for the reduced layout described above, the effective print area for the output paper size is equally divided, and the drawing area of the logical page in the application of the printer driver is determined. The page frame is also effective as a cut line, but a frame line as a cut line is required only on one side during double-sided printing.

[0004]

However, according to the above-described conventional print processing method, for example,
If you want to print on a non-standard paper size typified by a system organizer, etc.,
Since the maximum value and the minimum value of “user-defined size” differ depending on the printer, there is a problem that a user cannot specify a desired user-defined size depending on a balance between a printer model and a user-defined size.

Therefore, in the case described above, the user specifies the reduction ratio with the printer driver and prints with the printer. Therefore, the user needs to adjust the reduction ratio so that the size becomes a desired size, and the burden on the user is large.

When the desired output size is small, 1
If a plurality of pages can be obtained from physical pages, paper can be saved. However, in order to arrange a plurality of logical pages on one page of output paper (physical paper), conventionally, Nup
There is a way to use the function, but the conventional Nup function is
Since the print data of the output size is reduced so as to fit into an area equally divided by N with respect to the paper size specified by the printer driver as the “output size”, a result desired by the user cannot be obtained. This is because Nup printing divides the area specified by the “output size” of the printer driver into N equal parts, and multiplies the user-defined size by N if the user desires a print result of the user-defined size. This is because it is necessary to prepare output paper in the printer. Also, when using standard paper as the output paper, the "output size" of the printer driver must be specified as the standard paper, and when this specification is made, printing is performed on an area obtained by dividing the standard paper size into N equal parts. Therefore, a print result of a user-defined size cannot be obtained.

As for the function of adding a page frame (cut-out line), for example, when performing double-sided printing, a page frame is drawn on both sides, and depending on a paper feed error,
There is a problem that the frame is shifted on the front and back surfaces.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to eliminate the above-described drawbacks, and has been made to lay out an output paper size different from the original size without reducing the input original size print data. This makes it possible for a computer to read an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a print processing method, and processing steps for performing the same, which can easily perform print processing regardless of the output paper size limit that can be defined by the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage medium storing the stored information. Further, the present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages, and an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a print processing method, and a print processing method capable of effectively adding a page frame and performing print processing. To provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing processing steps for the computer.

[0009]

For such a purpose,
A first invention is an information processing apparatus for performing a printing process, comprising: an input unit for inputting an arbitrary first output paper size included in a predetermined second output paper size; A layout unit for laying out a plurality of pages of the first output paper size for each page.

[0010] The second invention is the above-mentioned first invention, wherein:
The layout means lays out a plurality of pages of the first output paper size for each of the double-sided pages of the second output paper size.

[0011] A third invention is the above-mentioned first invention, wherein:
The layout means adds a frame line to a page of the second output paper size on which the layout is performed.

In a fourth aspect based on any one of the first to third aspects, the first output paper size is a paper size of data to be printed in a logical page input from an application, and the second output paper size is a second one. The output paper size is
It is characterized by the paper size of the recording paper in the physical page to be printed out.

In a fifth aspect based on any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first output paper size is a user-defined paper size, and the second output paper size is a fixed size paper size. Features.

In a sixth aspect based on any one of the first to fifth aspects, the layout means converts the plurality of pages of the first output paper size to one page of the second output paper size without reducing the plurality of pages. It is characterized in that it is arranged for

[0015] In a seventh aspect based on the first aspect,
The data to be printed of the first output paper size is
The output paper size is changed to one of the second output paper size.
Nup means for reducing N pages (N is 2 or more) of scaled print target data with respect to the page and laying out N pages of reduced print target data is further provided. I do.

According to an eighth invention, in the seventh invention,
It is characterized by further comprising designating means for designating whether to perform the layout in the Nup means or the layout in the layout means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for controlling a printing operation of a printer capable of performing double-sided printing, comprising: a first input means for inputting an arbitrary first output paper size; A second input unit for inputting a second output paper size including a paper size; and a second output paper size based on the first output paper size and the second output paper size. Layout means for laying out one output paper size for a plurality of pages.

In a tenth aspect based on the ninth aspect, the layout means adds a frame line to the front and back surfaces of the sheet of the second output sheet size.

In an eleventh aspect based on the ninth aspect, the first output paper size is a paper size of data to be printed in a logical page input from an application, and the second output paper size is It is characterized by the paper size of the recording paper in the physical page to be printed out.

In a twelfth aspect based on the ninth aspect, the first output paper size is a user-defined paper size, and the second output paper size is a standard paper size.

In a thirteenth aspect based on the ninth aspect, the layout means arranges the plurality of pages of the first output paper size with respect to one page of the second output paper size without reduction. It is characterized by.

According to a fourteenth aspect, in the ninth aspect, the data to be printed of the first output paper size is scaled to the second output paper size, and one page of the second output paper size is scaled. Of the data to be printed,
It is characterized by further comprising Nup means for reducing the page (N is 2 or more) and laying out the reduced print target data for N pages.

A fifteenth invention is characterized in that, in the fourteenth invention, a designating means for designating whether to perform layout by the Nup means or to perform layout by the layout means is further provided.

[0024] A sixteenth invention is an information processing system in which a plurality of devices are communicably connected to each other, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is connected to any one of the first to third embodiments.
15. It has a function of the information processing device according to any one of 15.

A seventeenth invention is a print processing method for performing print processing by a printer, comprising: an input step of inputting an arbitrary first output paper size included in a second output paper size that can be supported by the printer. And laying out a plurality of pages of the first output paper size for one page of the second output paper size.

In an eighteenth aspect based on the seventeenth aspect, the layout step includes a step of laying out a plurality of pages of the first output paper size for each of the two-sided pages of the second output paper size. It is characterized by the following.

In a nineteenth aspect based on the seventeenth aspect, the layout step includes a step of adding a frame line to the page of the second output paper size on which the layout is performed. .

According to a twentieth aspect, in a system including an information processing device connected to a printer capable of performing double-sided printing,
A print processing method for controlling a printing operation in the printer, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a first input step of inputting a first output paper size desired by a user; A second input step of inputting a second output paper size including one output paper size, a first output paper size input by the first input step, and a second output paper size input by the second input step A layout step of laying out the first output paper size for a plurality of pages based on the second output paper size.

In a twenty-first aspect based on the twentieth aspect, the layout step includes a step of adding a frame line to the front and back surfaces of the sheet of the second output sheet size.

According to a twenty-second invention, a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15 or the functions of the information processing system according to claim 16 is computer-readable. It is characterized by being recorded on a storage medium.

A twenty-third invention is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the print processing method according to any one of claims 17 to 21 is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect, as a processing step for performing a printing process, an input step of inputting an arbitrary first output paper size included in a predetermined second output paper size,
For one page of the second output paper size, the first
A program for causing a computer to execute a layout step of laying out a plurality of pages of an output paper size is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect, as a processing step for controlling a printing operation in a printer capable of duplex printing,
A first input step of inputting an arbitrary first output paper size, a second input step of inputting a second output paper size including the first output paper size, the first output paper size and the second output Based on the paper size, the second
A program for causing a computer to execute a layout step of laying out the first output paper size for a plurality of pages on paper having an output paper size is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] The present invention is applied to, for example, a printer control system 100 as shown in FIG.

<Overall Configuration of Printer Control System 100> In the printer control system 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a host personal computer (host computer) 200 and a printer 300 are bidirectional. They are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via an interface 110.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the system 100 in which the host computer 200 and the printer 300 are connected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and functions described later in the present embodiment are applied. Is executed, the present invention is applicable to, for example, a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, or a system connected via a network such as a LAN or a WAN.

<Configuration of Host Computer 200> The host computer 200 includes a CPU 201 and a RAM 20.
2, a ROM 203, a keyboard controller (KBC) 205 of a keyboard (KB) 209, a CRT controller (CRTC) 206 of a CRT display (CRT) 210 as a display unit, and a hard disk (H
D) or a disk controller (DKC) 20 of an external memory 211 such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD).
7 and a printer controller (PRTC) 208 for accessing the printer 300 are connected to the system bus 20.
4 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The printer controller (PRTC) 208 is connected to the printer 300 via the bidirectional interface 110.

The CPU 201 is connected to the host computer 20
0 controls the entire operation, for example, ROM2
By reading and executing a document processing program or the like stored in the program ROM 203b (or the external memory 211) of No. 03, a document in which graphics, images, characters, tables (spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed is processed.

The CPU 201 is, for example, a RAM 2
02 is executed (rasterization) of the outline font to the display information set on the CRT display 02, and WYSIWYG (What You See Is Wh
at You Get).

The CPU 201 opens various registered windows and executes various data processing based on a command specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the CRT display 110. Thus, for example, when executing a print process, the user opens a window related to print settings, sets printer settings, sets a print processing method for a printer driver including selection of a print mode, and follows the settings. Print processing can be executed.

The ROM 203 is a font ROM 203
a, program ROM 203b, and data ROM 2
03c. The program ROM 203b stores a control program (OS: operating system program) for controlling the operation of the CPU 201, and the like. The font ROM 203a stores font data and the like used when performing document processing and the like. The data ROM 203c stores various data used when performing document processing or the like. RAM 20
Reference numeral 2 functions as a main memory or a work area of the CPU 201.

The control program stored in the program ROM 203b, the font data stored in the font ROM 203a, and the data ROM 2
Various data and the like stored in 03c may be stored in the external memory 211.

Keyboard controller (KBC) 205
Controls key input from a keyboard (KB) 209 or a pointing device (not shown). The CRT controller (CRTC) 206 has a CRT display (CR
T) The display operation of 210 is controlled.

Disk controller (DKC) 207
Is a hard disk (H) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, a user file, an edit file, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter also referred to as a “printer driver”), and the like.
D) or an external memory 21 such as a floppy disk (FD)
1 is controlled.

Printer controller (PRTC) 208
Executes a communication control process with the printer 300 via the bidirectional interface 110.

<Configuration of Printer 300> Printer 300
Are a CPU 302, a RAM 309, and a ROM 303
The input unit 308, the interface (printing unit I / F) 306 of the printing unit 307, the operation unit 301, and the controller (MC) 310 of the external memory 304 are communicably connected to each other via the system bus 305. The configuration is as follows. The input unit 308 is a bidirectional interface 1
10 is connected to the host computer 200.

The CPU 301 controls the overall operation of the printer 300. For example, the CPU 301 reads out and executes a control program stored in the program ROM 303b of the ROM 303 (or the external memory 304) to execute an interface (printing unit I). An image signal as output information is output to the printing unit (printer engine) 307 via the / F) 306.

The ROM 303 is a font ROM 303
a, program ROM 303b, and data ROM 3
03c. The program ROM 303b stores a control program and the like for controlling the operation of the CPU 301. In the font ROM 303a,
Font data and the like used when generating an image signal to be output to the printing unit (printer engine) 307 are stored. Information and the like used on the host computer 200 when the external memory 304 such as a hard disk is not provided are stored in the data ROM 303c.

The RAM 309 functions as a main memory and a work area for the CPU 301. RAM 309
Is an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown)
, The memory capacity can be expanded. Note that the RAM 309 is also used as an output information development area, an environment data storage area, an NVRAM, and the like.

The memory controller (MC) 310 is connected to an external memory 30 such as a hard disk (HD) or an IC card.
4 is controlled. The external memory 304 is connectable as an option, and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like.

The operation unit 301 includes an operation panel and the like, and is provided with switches for instructing various operations, an LED display, and the like. The input unit 308 is for communicating with the host computer 200, and is capable of notifying the host computer 200 of various information and the like in the printer 300.

In the printer 300, one external memory 304 is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of external memories may be provided. Further, in addition to the font data, an option card or a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language may be stored in these external memories. Also, for example, N (not shown)
A VRAM is provided, and the operation unit 30
The printer mode information set in step 1 may be stored.

<Functional Configuration for Print Processing in Host Computer 200> FIG.
Reference numeral 00 functionally shows a configuration for performing print processing by the printer 300 connected directly or via a network.

As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 200 stores the application 221, the graphic engine 222, the printer driver 223, and the system spooler 224 as files in the external memory 211.

The application 221, the graphic engine 222, the printer driver 223, and the system spooler 224 are program modules that are loaded into the RAM 202 and executed by the CPU 201 as needed. That is, the application 221, the graphic engine 222, the printer driver 223, and the system spooler 224 are components that execute the functions of the present embodiment by being loaded into the RAM 202 as needed by the CPU 201 and executed.

The application 221 and the printer driver 223 can be added to an FD as the external memory 211, a CD-ROM (not shown), or an HD as the external disk 211 via a network (not shown). ing.

The application 221 stored in the external memory 211 is transmitted to the RAM 202 by the CPU 201.
When the printer 300 performs a printing process by this execution, the application 22
1 loads the graphic engine 222 stored in the external memory 211 into the RAM 202 and executes it.
Thus, output (drawing) using the graphic engine 222 is performed.

The graphic engine 222 loads a printer driver 223 prepared for each printer (here, a printer driver corresponding to the printer 300) from the external memory 211 to the RAM 202, and outputs output information of the application 221 to the printer driver 223. Set. For example, the graphic engine 222 is a GDI that is a drawing function received from the application 221.
(Graphic Device Interface)
e) function is a device control function that can be interpreted by a printer driver, DDI (Device Driver I).
The DDI function is set to the printer driver 223.

The printer driver 223, based on the DDI function set from the graphic engine 222,
A control command recognizable by the printer 300, for example, P
DL (Page Description Langu)
age).

The system spooler 224 stored in the external memory 211 is transmitted to the RAM 202 by the CPU 201.
Is loaded and executed. System spooler 224
Outputs the control command to the printer 300 converted to PDL by the printer driver 223 as print data to the printer 300 via the interface 110.

FIG. 3 shows an expanded configuration of the configuration shown in FIG. The host computer 200 shown in FIG. 3 has a configuration in which print data from the application 201 is temporarily spooled as intermediate code data, in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. Therefore, the host computer 200 includes an application 221, a graphic engine 222, a printer driver 223, and a system spooler 224, as well as a dispatcher 231, a spooler 232, a spool file 233, a spool file manager 234, and a despooler 235.

Here, in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, first, the application 221 is released from the printing process because the printer driver 223 converts all print commands from the graphic engine 222 into control commands of the printer 300. This is the end point.

On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG.
The time when the application 221 is released from the printing process is the time when the spooler 232 converts all the print commands into the intermediate code data and outputs it to the spool file 233 as the print data, thereby shortening the processing time. .

In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the print data stored in the spool file 233 can be processed. Thereby, the application 22
A function not provided by the application 221 can be realized, such as performing print processing by enlarging or reducing print data output from the print data 1 or performing print processing by reducing a plurality of pages to one page.

In order to realize the above configuration, the configuration shown in FIG. 3 is different from the configuration shown in FIG.
An extension has been made to spool all print commands with intermediate code data.

When processing the print data in the spool file 233, for example, the user makes settings from a window provided by the printer driver 223. As a result, the printer driver 223 stores the contents set by the user in the RAM 202 or the external memory 211.

Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. 3 will be specifically described. First, the dispatcher 231 receives a print command from the graphic engine 222. When the print command received from the graphic engine 222 is a print command issued from the application 221 to the graphic engine 222, the dispatcher 231 controls the spooler 232 stored in the external memory 211.
Is loaded into the RAM 202 and the print command is sent to the spooler 232 instead of the printer driver 223. still,
The print command received from the graphic engine 222 is transmitted from the despooler 235 to the graphic engine 222.
The case of the print command issued to the printer will be described later.

The spooler 232 includes a dispatcher 231
Is converted into intermediate code data and output to the spool file 233. Also, the spooler 23
Reference numeral 2 denotes a processing setting relating to print data set for the printer driver 223,
3 and stored in the spool file 233.

The spool file 233 is, for example,
Although the file is generated as a file on the external memory 211, the present invention is not limited to this.
It may be generated on M202.

The spooler 232 is connected to the external memory 2
Spool file manager 23 stored in 11
4 is loaded into the RAM 202, and the spool file manager 234 is notified of the generation status of the spool file 233.

The spool file manager 234 receives the notification from the spooler 232 and
Then, it is determined whether or not the printing process can be executed according to the contents of the processing settings relating to the print data stored in No.3. As a result of this determination, when the print processing is executable, the spool file manager 234 loads the despooler 235 stored in the external memory 211 into the RAM 202, and instructs the despooler 235 to store the intermediate file stored in the spool file 233. Instructs execution of code data printing processing.

The despooler 235 processes the intermediate code data stored in the spool file 233 according to the instruction from the spool file manager 234 in accordance with the processing settings stored in the spool file 233 together with the intermediate code data. The processed intermediate code data is output again as a print command via the graphic engine 222.

The dispatcher 231 transmits the print command received from the graphic engine 222 to the despooler 2.
In the case of a print command issued from 35 to the graphic engine 222, the print command is transmitted not to the spooler 232 but to the printer driver 223.

The printer driver 223 converts a print command from the dispatcher 231 into a control command for the printer 300, and outputs the control command to the printer 300 via the system spooler 224.

<Duplex Printing Function of Printer 300> FIG.
Shows a configuration of the double-sided printing function of the printer 300. In FIG. 4, for example, the printer 300
Denotes a color laser printer, and shows a cross-sectional view thereof.

In the printer 300 shown in FIG. 4, laser light modulated with image data for each color obtained based on print data from the host computer 200 is scanned on the photosensitive drum 15 by the polygon mirror 31. An electrostatic latent image is formed. Then, the electrostatic groove image is developed with toner to obtain a visible image, and this image is multiply transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9 for all colors to form a color visible image. Then, the color visible image is further transferred to the transfer material 2, and the transfer material 2
Fix the color visible image on top. The image forming unit that performs such an operation includes a drum unit having a photosensitive drum 15, a primary charging unit having a contact charging roller 17, a cleaning unit, a developing unit, an intermediate transfer body 9, a paper cassette 1, and various rollers 3, 4, and 5. , 7, a transfer unit including the transfer roller 10, and a fixing unit 25.

The drum unit 13 is formed integrally with a photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) 15 and a cleaner container 14 having a cleaning mechanism also serving as a holder for the photosensitive drum 15. The drum unit 13 is detachably supported by the main body of the printer 300, and is configured to be easily replaceable in accordance with the life of the photosensitive drum 15.

The photosensitive drum 15 has a structure in which an organic photoconductor layer is applied to the outer periphery of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotatably supported by the cleaner container 14. The photosensitive drum 15 rotates when a driving force of a drive motor (not shown) is transmitted, and the drive motor rotates the photosensitive drum 15 in a counterclockwise direction according to an image forming operation. By selectively exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 15, an electrostatic latent image is formed.

The scanner section 30 reflects the modulated laser light by a polygon mirror which rotates by synchronizing a horizontal synchronizing signal of an image signal with a motor 31a,
Then, the photosensitive drum 15 is irradiated through the reflecting mirror 33.

The developing section performs three color developments for developing yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) in order to visualize the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 15. Devices 20Y, 20M, and 20C, and one black developing device 21B that performs black (B) development.

The color developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C and the black developing unit 21B have sleeps 20YS, 20M, respectively.
S, 20CS, 21BS and their sleep 20Y
S, 20MS, 20CS, 21BS, coating blades 20YB, 20MB, 20CB,
21BB are provided. Color developing device 20
Y, 20M and 20C have coating rollers 20YR and 20M, respectively.
R and 20CR are provided.

The black developing device 21B is connected to the printer 300
The color developing units 20Y, 20M, and 20C are detachably attached to the main body, and are detachably attached to a developing rotary 23 that rotates around a rotation shaft 22.

Sleep 21BS of black developing unit 21B
Are arranged at a minute interval of, for example, about 300 μm with respect to the photosensitive drum 15. Black developer 2
1B transports toner by a feeding member built in the black developing device 21B, and applies a coating blade 21BB to the outer periphery of a sleep 21BS that rotates clockwise.
Charge is applied to the toner by frictional charging so that the toner is applied. In addition, the black developing device 21B
By applying a developing bias to 1BS, development is performed on the photosensitive drum 15 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image, and a visible image is formed on the photosensitive drum 15 using black toner.

The color developing units 20Y, 20M and 20C are:
It rotates with the rotation of the developing rotary 23 during image formation. At this time, predetermined sleeps 20YS, 20M
S and 20CS are configured to face the photosensitive drum 15 with a small interval of about 300 μm.
As a result, the color developing units 20Y, 20M, and 20C are stopped at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 15, and a visible image is created on the photosensitive drum 15. When forming a color image,
Each time the intermediate transfer member 9 rotates, the developing rotary 23 rotates, and the color developing device 20Y (yellow developing device), the color developing device 20M (magenta developing device), and the color developing device 20
C (cyan developing device) and black developing device 21B in this order.
A developing process is performed, and the intermediate transfer body 9 rotates four times, and visible images are sequentially formed by the respective toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. As a result, a full-color visible image is formed on the intermediate transfer body 9. You.

The intermediate transfer member 9 is configured to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 15 in contact with the photosensitive drum 15 and rotate clockwise during color image formation. Subject to four multiple transfers of the visible image. In addition, the intermediate transfer body 9 simultaneously transfers the color visible image on the intermediate transfer body 9 to the transfer material 2 by the multiple transfer of the transfer material 2 by the transfer roller 10 to be described later being brought into contact with the transfer material 2 during image formation. I do.

The outer peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer member 9 is
And a density sensor 9c for detecting the density of the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9 for detecting the position of the toner image in the rotation direction.

The transfer roller 10 is provided with a transfer charger which is supported so as to be able to contact and separate from the photosensitive drum 15, and is constituted by winding a metal shaft with a medium-resistance foam elastic body. The transfer roller 10 is used for the intermediate transfer body 9
During the multiple transfer of the color visible image on the upper side, the color visible image is separated downward so as not to disturb the color visible image, and after the color visible image of four colors is formed on the intermediate transfer member 9, the color visible image is The transfer roller 10 is configured to be positioned upward by a cam member (not shown) in accordance with the timing at which the transfer roller 10 is transferred to the transfer material 2. Thereby, the transfer roller 1
0 is pressed against the intermediate transfer member 9 via the transfer material 2 with a predetermined suppression pressure, and a bias voltage is applied to transfer the color visible image on the intermediate transfer member 9 to the transfer material 2.

The fixing section 25 fixes the transferred color visible image while conveying the transfer material 2. The fixing section 25 presses the transfer material 2 against the fixing roller 26 by heating the transfer material 2. And a pressure roller 27. The fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27 are formed in a hollow shape, and have heaters 28 and 29 respectively built therein.

That is, the transfer material 2 holding the color visible image is conveyed by the fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27, and the toner is fixed on the surface by applying heat and pressure.

After the fixing of the visible image, the transfer material 2 is discharged to discharge details 37 by discharge rollers 34, 35 and 36. Thus, the image forming operation ends.

The cleaning means cleans the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 15 and the intermediate transfer member 9. Waste toner after transferring the visible image formed by the toner on the photosensitive drum 15 to the intermediate transfer body 9, or waste toner after transferring the four color visible images formed on the intermediate transfer body 9 to the transfer material 2 Waste toner is supplied to the cleaner container 14.
Is stored in

The transfer material (recording paper) 2 to be printed is taken out from the paper feed tray 1 by the paper feed roller 3 and is conveyed so as to be sandwiched between the intermediate transfer body 9 and the transfer roller 10 to be transferred by the color toner. The image is recorded, passes through the fixing unit 25, and the toner image is fixed.

In the case of the one-sided printing process, the conveyance path is formed so that the guide 38 guides the recording sheet to the upper discharge details, but for the duplex printing, the path is formed so as to be guided to the lower duplex unit. I do.

The recording paper guided to the double-sided unit is once fed into the lower portion of the tray 1 (a conveyance path indicated by a two-dot chain line) by the conveyance rollers 40, then conveyed in the opposite direction, and sent to the double-sided tray 39.

On the double-sided tray 39, the recording paper is turned upside down from the state of being placed on the paper feed tray 1.
The transport direction is upside down. By transferring and fixing the toner image again in this state, double-sided printing can be performed.

<Operation of Printer Control System 100> First, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a page unit saving process to the spool file 233 in the spooler 232 shown in FIG.

Step S501: The spooler 232 sends the application 22 via the printer driver 223.
1 (hereinafter also referred to as “print request”). Specifically, for example, the application 221
In the CRT display 210, for example, FIG.
A dialog screen 550 for inputting print settings as shown in FIG. The printer driver 223 acquires the print setting information input by the user from the dialog screen 550, and supplies this to the spooler 232. The dialog screen 550 in FIG. 6 includes setting items for determining the number of logical pages to be laid out on a physical page, such as “551”.

Step S502: The spooler 232 determines whether the print request received in step S501 is a job start request. If the result of this determination is that the request is a job start request, the flow proceeds to the next step S503; otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S506, which will be described later.

Steps S503 to S505: If the result of determination in step S502 indicates that the request is a job start request, the spooler 232 creates a spool file 233 for temporarily storing intermediate code data (step S503). Subsequently, the spooler 232 notifies the spool file manager 234 of the progress of the printing process (job start notification) (step S504). Then, the spooler 232 initializes the page number counter to “1”. At this time, spool file manager 2
Numeral 34 acquires job information, processing settings, and the like for the job for which the printing process has been started from the spool file 233 and stores it. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S501 again, and the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed.

Step S506: If the result of determination in step S502 is that the print request accepted in step S501 is not a job start request, the spooler 232 determines whether the print request is a job end request. If the result of this determination is that the request is a job end request, the flow proceeds to step S512 described below, and if not, the flow proceeds to the next step S507.

Step S507: If the result of determination in step S506 is that the print request accepted in step S501 is not a job end request, the spooler 232 determines whether the print request is a page break request. If it is determined that the request is a page break request, the next step S5
08, otherwise step S5 described below
Go to 09.

Step S508: If the result of determination in step S507 is that the print request accepted in step S501 is a page break request, the spooler 232 notifies the spool file manager 234 of the progress of the print processing (one logical page). Print end notification). Then, the spooler 232 increments the page number counter. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S501 again, and the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed.

Steps S509-S511: If the result of determination in step S507 is that the print request accepted in step S501 is not a page break request, spooler 2
32 prepares for storing the intermediate code data in the spool file 233 (step S509). Subsequently, the spooler 232 sends the print request to the spool file 303.
In order to store the print request, the print request is converted into intermediate code data (step S510). And the spooler 23
2 stores the intermediate code data acquired in step S510 in the spool file 233. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S501 again, and the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed.

Step S512: If the result of determination in step S506 is that the print request accepted in step S501 is a job end request, the spooler 232 recognizes that all print requests from the application 221 have ended, and the spool file manager After notifying 234 of the progress of the printing process (spool end notification), the process ends.

FIG. 7 shows the spool file 233 in the spool file manager 234 shown in FIG.
2 is a flowchart showing a process for accessing and controlling the URL.

Step S601: The spool file manager 234 checks whether the spooler 232 or the despooler 235
The notification of the progress of the printing process from is received.

Step S602: The spool file manager 234 determines whether or not the notification in step S601 is the job start notification (print start notification) notified by the spooler 232 in step 504 in FIG. If the result of this determination is that it is a print start notification, the flow proceeds to the next step S603; otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S604 described below.

Step S603: If the result of determination in step S602 is that the notification is a print start notification, the spool file manager 234 obtains information on print processing settings from the spool file 233 and starts managing the print job. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S601 again, and the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed.

Step S604: If the result of determination in step S602 is that the notification is not a print start notification, the spool file manager 234 determines that the notification in step S601 ends printing of one logical page notified by the spooler 232 in step 508 in FIG. It is determined whether the notification is a notification (page break notification). If the result of this determination is that the printing has been completed for one logical page, the flow proceeds to the next step S605; otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S609 described later.

Steps S605 and S606: If the result of determination in step S604 is that printing of one logical page has been completed, the spool file manager 234
Holds the logical page information for the logical page (step S605). Then, the spool file manager 234 determines whether printing of one physical page can be started for the n logical pages for which spooling has been completed at this time (whether a print request to the printer 300 is possible).
Is determined (step S606). Specifically, FIG.
When the user specifies “8 pages / sheet” as the page layout 1001 in the user interface of the printer driver shown in FIG. 7, the printing of the physical page can be started by determining whether eight logical pages have accumulated. Can be determined. Also, when "automatic placement of specified size" (see FIG. 15) is specified as the page layout, it is necessary to determine the area and determine the start of printing as described later with reference to FIG. If the result of this determination is that a print request is possible, the flow proceeds to the next step S607; otherwise, the flow returns to step S607.
Return to 601.

Step S607: If the result of determination in step S606 is that a print request is possible, the spool file manager 234 determines a physical page number from the logical number allocated to one physical page to be printed.

For the method of determining the physical page number, for example, when the processing setting is such that four logical pages are arranged in one physical page, the first logical page is obtained by spooling the fourth logical page. At this point, printing is possible.
Subsequently, the second physical page can be printed when the eighth logical page is spooled. Even if the total number of logical pages is not a multiple of the number of logical pages allocated to one physical page, the spool end notification in step S512 shown in FIG. Can be determined.

Step S608: The spool file manager 234, for example, stores the information as shown in FIG. 8, that is, information such as the logical page numbers constituting the physical pages that can be printed and the physical page numbers.
35 (a physical page print start request notification). Thereafter, the flow returns to step S601 again, and the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed.

In this embodiment, when one page of the print data, that is, the logical page constituting one physical page is spooled, the printing process is performed even if the spooling of the print job is not completed. It is possible.

Step S609: If the result of determination in step S604 is not that printing of one logical page has been completed, the spool file manager 234 proceeds to step S601.
Is determined as the spool end notification (job end notification) notified by the spooler 232 in step 512 of FIG. As a result of this determination, if it is a spool end notification, the process proceeds to step S606 described above; otherwise, the process proceeds to the next step S610 again.

Step S610: If it is determined in step S609 that the notification is not a spool end notification, the spool file manager 234 determines whether or not the notification in step S601 is a print end notification of one logical page from the spooler 232. I do. If the result of this determination is that the printing has been completed for one logical page, the process proceeds to step S611.
Proceeds to step S613 if not.
Proceed to.

Step S611: If the result of determination in step S610 is that printing of one logical page has been completed, the spool file manager 234 determines whether or not all printing processing according to the processing settings has been completed. If the result of this determination is that printing processing has ended, the next step S61
2; otherwise, go to step S60 described above.
Return to 6.

Step S612: If the result of determination in step S611 is that printing processing has ended, the spool file manager 234 notifies the despooler 235 of printing end. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S601 again, and the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed. Note that the despooler 235 according to the present embodiment assumes that the number of physical pages that can be simultaneously printed is "1".

Step S613: If the result of determination in step S610 is not that printing of one logical page has been completed, the spool file manager 234 proceeds to step S601.
Is determined as a print end notification from the despooler 235. If the result of this determination is that printing processing has ended, the flow advances to the next step S614; otherwise, the flow advances to step S615 described later.

Step S614: If the result of determination in step S610 is that the notification is a print end notification, the spool file manager 234 deletes the corresponding data in the spool file 233, and ends this processing.

Step S615: If the result of determination in step S610 is not a print end notification, the spool file manager 234 executes processing corresponding to the notification in step S601. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S601 again, and the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed.

FIG. 9 shows the despooler 23 shown in FIG.
5 is a flowchart illustrating print data generation processing in FIG.

Here, the despooler 235 reads necessary information from the spool file 233 and generates print data in response to a print request from the spool file manager 234. The method of transferring the generated print data to the printer 300 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 3, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Step S701: The despooler 235
The notification from the spool file manager 304 is received.

Step S702: The despooler 235
It is determined whether or not the notification in step S701 is a job end notification. If the result of this determination is that the notification is a job end notification, the flow proceeds to the next step S703; otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S704 described later.

Step S703: If the result of determination in step S702 is a job end notification, the despooler 23
No. 5 notifies the spool file manager 234 of the end of processing by the despooler 235, and then ends this processing.

Step S704: If the result of determination in step S702 is that there is no job end notification, the despooler 23
5 indicates that the notification in step S701 is the same as the spool file manager 234 in step S608 in FIG.
It is determined whether the notification is a physical page print start request notification. If the result of this determination is that it is a physical page print start request notification, the flow proceeds to the next step S705; otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S707 described later.

Step S705: If the result of determination in step S704 is a physical page print start request notification,
The despooler 235 is a spool file manager 23
4 (see FIG. 8 above),
From the information in the spool file 233, information necessary for generating print data of the specified physical page is acquired, and a print process based on the acquired information is executed. Specifically, the despooler 235 sends the print request command stored in the spool file 233 to the graphic engine 222 of the OS.
Is converted into a recognizable format (GDI function) and transferred.
At this time, if the processing setting of the page layout is such that a plurality of logical pages are laid out on one physical page, the conversion is performed in consideration of the reduced arrangement. Specifically, if “N pages / sheet” is specified as the page layout, the printable area of the output paper size, which is a physical page, is calculated according to the print margin, and the obtained printable area is set to N or the like. The data to be printed, which is stored in the spool file 233 in the intermediate data format, is reduced so that the logical data of N pages can be accommodated in the divided area, and is reduced in the specified arrangement order. Then, the generated print handling data is arranged (layout), and a conversion process of a drawing function is performed so that a print result is obtained. If “automatic placement of specified size” is specified as the page layout, as described later, the physical page is stored in the spool file 233 without reducing the print target data stored in the intermediate data format. Are arranged (layout) so as to fit in the output paper size of, and the conversion generation processing of the drawing function is performed so as to obtain the print result.

Step S706: After the printing process in step S705 ends, the despooler 235 notifies the spool file manager 234 of the end of generation of print data of one physical page. Thereafter, step S70 is performed again.
Returning to step 1, the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed.

Step S707: If the result of determination in step S704 is not a physical page print start request notification,
The despooler 235 executes a process corresponding to the notification in step S701. After that, the process returns to step S701 again, and the subsequent processing steps are repeatedly executed.

<Characteristic Features of Printer Control System 100> In the printer control system 100 described above, for example, when printing a plurality of pages at a user-defined size, the back side of the page is taken into account in consideration of the page frame (cutout). The following describes a configuration in which a page number is also drawn and a page frame is drawn only on the back surface. The various screens 1000 to 1500 described below are configured to be displayed on the CRT display 210 of the host computer 200 under the control of the CPU 201.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a setting screen 1000 for a multi-page printing process. Setting screen 1
No. 000 allows a plurality of pages to be printed from the page layout list 1001. The setting screen 1000 includes an item 10 for setting the paper orientation.
02, a button 1003 for setting a page frame, and a button 1004 for setting a user-defined size. The setting screen (print setting user interface provided by the printer driver) 1000 is a document size which is a paper size of data to be printed (logical page) input from the application, and a recording paper (physical page) to be printed out. The output paper size, which is the paper size, can be specified.

FIG. 11 shows the setting screen 1000 shown in FIG.
10 shows an example of a page frame setting screen 1100 that is switched when a button 1003 is pressed. The page frame setting screen 1100 includes an item 1101 for setting the type of a frame line and an item 1102 for specifying whether to add a frame line to the back surface. The setting of the item 1102 is enabled when double-sided printing is designated.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a setting screen 1200 for setting the double-sided printing process. The setting screen 1200 includes an item 1 for setting double-sided printing processing.
Item 201 for specifying the binding position and binding margin
202.

FIG. 13 shows the setting screen 1000 shown in FIG.
9 shows an example of a user-defined paper size designation dialogue screen 1300 which is switched when a button 1004 is pressed. The user-defined paper size designation dialogue screen 1300 displays the output paper size (first
Output paper size). In the right part of this item 1301, information such as the range of paper sizes (second output paper sizes) supported by the printer 300 is specified.

Here, for example, if the user
When a user-defined size for an output paper size not supported by the printer 300 is specified on the screen shown in FIG.
4 is displayed.

When "Yes" is selected on the message screen 1400, the automatic arrangement processing in the present embodiment as described below is executed, and when "No" is selected, the current input value becomes invalid.

FIG. 15 shows a GUI screen 150 of the automatic arrangement processing provided by the printer driver 223 according to the present embodiment.
0 is an example. On the GUI screen 1500, “Automatically arrange specified size” as the page layout
Indicates a state where is selected. In addition, the arrangement order is valid, as in the case of the multiple page (N page) print processing (Nup processing of reducing and arranging N logical pages into one physical page). As described above, in the user interface of the print setting provided by the print control program (corresponding to the printer driver 233) of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the Nup print processing is specified as the page layout, and N logical pages for which no reduction processing is performed are included. It has a function of designating means for designating layout processing for one physical page.

FIG. 16 shows the automatic arrangement in the present embodiment.
The processing is shown in a flowchart. This automatic distribution
Placement processing is performed as the page layout
When “placement” is specified, the CPU 201 (printing
Driver 223). In addition, this processing
The processing is performed by the CPU, but the processing program is executed by the printer.
Provided by driver 223, loaded into RAM and executed
It becomes possible.

Step S1601: The CPU 201 initializes the counter I to "1".

Step S1602: The CPU 201 sets the user-defined size (XU, Y
U), the output paper size (X
O, YO), the left and top offsets (X_OFFSET1, Y_OFFSET1) with respect to the sheet, the binding position and binding margin (XM, YM), and the effective print area (X
(P, YO) information. FIG. 17 illustrates the various types of information (variables) obtained here. still,
Right and top offsets (X_OFFS
For ET2, Y_OFFSET2), X_OFFSET2 = XO− (XP + X_OFFSET)
1) Y_OFFSET2 = YO- (YP + Y_OFFSET)
1) is obtained by the following equation.

Step S1603: The CPU 201 acquires the page printing order and the page number P of the automatic arrangement.

Step S1604: The CPU 201 determines whether or not the printing process has been completed (whether or not "I>P") by comparing the counter I with the number of pages P.
If the result of this determination is that printing has ended, this processing is ended; otherwise, the flow proceeds to the next step S1605.

Step S1605: If the result of determination in step 1604 is that printing has not yet been completed,
U201 is an effective print area (X_PA, Y
_PA), X_PA = XP- (XM + | X_OFFSET1-X_
OFFSET2 |) Y_PA = XP- (YM + | Y_OFFSET1-Y_
OFFSET2 |). In this equation, “||” indicates an absolute value. Note that the binding position is opposite on the front surface and the back surface.

Step S1606: The CPU 201 sets the effective print area (X_PA,
Y_PA), user-defined size (XU, YU)
Is performed for arranging.

Specifically, the effective print area (X_PA, Y
_PA) in the X and Y directions in the X and Y directions, how many pages the user-defined size (XU, YU) can be arranged in the X direction. Y_PA / YU In this calculation, the decimal point is truncated. Therefore, the actual print area is (XU * NX, Y
U * NY). Further, the number N of logical pages drawn on the page is N = NX * NY.

Step S1607: The CPU 201 determines whether the page to be processed is the front side or the back side. If the result of this determination is that it is a surface, step S1
Proceeding to step 608, if it is the back side, step S1609
Proceed to.

Step S1608: Step S1607
As a result of the determination, if the surface is the front surface, the CPU 201 draws the odd-numbered logical page data on the arrangement region (divided region) on the surface and draws the frame according to the frame drawing setting. Further, the operation instruction is given to the printer 300 so that the frame line is drawn so as to represent the paper size.

Step S1609: Step S1607
As a result of the determination, the CPU 201 causes the even-numbered logical page data to be drawn on each arrangement region (divided region) on the back surface and draws a frame according to the drawing setting of the frame. Further, the operation instruction is given to the printer 300 so that the frame line is drawn so as to represent the paper size.

Step S1610: The CPU 201 increases the counter I by "N".

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing step S160 in FIG.
In the depiction process of No. 9, for example, in the case of backside drawing, the printing order of automatic arrangement and how to arrange and depict logical pages with respect to the paper orientation are shown in a table. In FIG. 18, “LRTB” is “Left”, “Right”, “Top”, and “Botto”, respectively.
m, and LR means left to right and TB means top to bottom. Therefore, "LRTB" indicates that the image is arranged and drawn from the upper left to the right, and "RLTB" indicates that the image is drawn from the upper right. "TBLR" indicates that the image is to be placed and rendered to the left.
Indicates that the image should be placed and drawn downward from the upper left,
"TBRL" indicates that the image is arranged and drawn downward from the upper right. In the case of surface description, step S
In 1608, odd pages may be arranged and described in the order of printing.

As described above, the automatic arrangement processing of the user-defined size is executed. As a result, the user-defined size can be arranged for a plurality of pages and the printing process can be performed, thereby expanding the allowable range of the user-defined size.

It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but also to a device including one device (copier, printer, facsimile machine). Etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the host and the terminal according to the first embodiment to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer for the system or the apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by a program (or CPU or MPU) reading and executing a program code stored in a storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the function of the first embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, RO
M, floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-
RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, DVD-
A ROM, a DVD-RAM, or the like can be used. The functions of the first embodiment are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the first embodiment are realized by the processing. Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in an extension function board inserted into the computer or a function extension unit connected to the computer, the function extension is performed based on the instruction of the program code. C provided on board and function expansion unit
It goes without saying that the PU or the like performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the first embodiment.

[0156]

As described above, according to the present invention, the second output paper size is determined based on the predetermined second output paper size and an arbitrary first output paper size included in the second output paper size. The configuration is such that a plurality of pages of the first output paper size are laid out for one page of the paper size. At this time, the layout may be performed on both the front surface and the back surface. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a frame line is added. With such a configuration, a desired print process can be easily performed regardless of the output paper size limit that can be defined by the user. In addition, it is possible to effectively add a frame line (page frame) and perform printing processing.

For example, printing processing in an arbitrary size (first output paper size) not supported by the printer, such as a system organizer, can be easily performed. Moreover, the cutoff line can be effectively added by the configuration for adding the frame line.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer control system to which the present invention is applied in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a host computer of the printer control system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration in which the functions of the host computer are extended.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer of the printer control system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the spooler of the host computer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen in the host computer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the spool file manager of the host computer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of data output by the spool file manager.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the despooler of the host computer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a setting screen for printing a plurality of pages in the host computer.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a page frame setting screen in the host computer.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining an example of a double-sided print setting screen in the host computer.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining an example of a user-defined paper size designation dialog screen in the host computer.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message screen in the host computer.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer driver GUI screen in the host computer.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining automatic placement processing in the host computer.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship of each variable with respect to a sheet in the automatic placement processing.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for describing the layout of logical pages with respect to the printing order and paper orientation of N-page printing in the automatic layout processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 printer control system 110 bidirectional interface 201 CPU 202 RAM 203 ROM 204 system bus 205 keyboard controller (KBC) 206 CRT controller (CRTC) 207 disk controller (DKC) 208 printer controller (PRTC) 209 keyboard (KB) 210 CRT display ( (CRT) 211 External memory 300 Printer 301 Operation unit 302 CPU 303 ROM 304 External memory 305 System bus 306 Interface (printing unit I / F) 307 Printing unit 308 Input unit 309 RAM 310 Controller (MC)

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for performing a printing process, comprising: input means for inputting an arbitrary first output paper size included in a predetermined second output paper size; and one page of the second output paper size. For the first
An information processing apparatus comprising: a layout unit that lays out a plurality of pages of an output paper size. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said layout means lays out a plurality of pages of said first output paper size for each of two-sided pages of said second output paper size. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layout unit adds a frame line to the page of the second output paper size on which the layout is performed. 4. The first output paper size is a paper size of data to be printed in a logical page input from an application, and the second output paper size is
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is a sheet size of a recording sheet in a physical page to be printed out. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first output paper size is a user-defined paper size, and the second output paper size is a standard paper size. apparatus. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said layout means arranges a plurality of pages of said first output paper size with respect to one page of said second output paper size without reduction. An information processing device according to any one of the above. 7. The printing target data of the first output paper size is scaled to the second output paper size, and the scaled printing target data of one page of the second output paper size is scaled. Nu for laying out N pages (N is 2 or more) of reduced print target data for N pages
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a p unit. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising designating means for designating whether to perform layout in said Nup means or to perform layout in said layout means. 9. An information processing apparatus for controlling a printing operation of a printer capable of performing double-sided printing, comprising: first input means for inputting an arbitrary first output paper size; A second input unit for inputting a second output paper size; and a first output paper size for the second output paper size based on the first output paper size and the second output paper size. And a layout means for laying out a plurality of pages. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said layout means adds a frame line to the front and back surfaces of the sheet of the second output sheet size. 11. The first output paper size is a paper size of data to be printed in a logical page input from an application, and the second output paper size is a paper size of a recording paper in a physical page to be printed out. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information processing apparatus has a size. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first output paper size is a user-defined paper size, and the second output paper size is a standard paper size. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said layout means arranges a plurality of pages of said first output paper size for one page of said second output paper size without reduction. apparatus. 14. The print data of the first output paper size is scaled to the second output paper size, and the scaled print data of one page of the second output paper size is changed. N pages (N is 2 or more) are reduced, and N pages of the reduced print target data are laid out.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an up unit. 15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising designating means for designating whether to perform layout in said Nup means or to perform layout in said layout means. 16. An information processing system in which a plurality of devices are communicably connected to each other, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15. An information processing system having a function of: 17. A print processing method for performing print processing by a printer, comprising: an input step of inputting an arbitrary first output paper size included in a second output paper size that can be supported by the printer; For one page of output paper size, the first
A layout step of laying out a plurality of pages of an output paper size. 18. The method according to claim 18, wherein the layout step comprises the step of:
18. The print processing method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of laying out a plurality of pages of the first output paper size for each of two-sided pages of the output paper size. 19. The print processing method according to claim 17, wherein the layout step includes a step of adding a frame line to the page of the second output paper size on which the layout is performed. 20. A print processing method for controlling a printing operation by a printer in a system including an information processing device connected to a printer capable of performing double-sided printing, wherein the information processing device includes: A first input step of inputting a first output paper size to be input, a second input step of inputting a second output paper size including the first output paper size in the information processing apparatus, and an input by the first input step. The first output paper size that has been input, and the second output paper size input in the second input step.
A print processing method comprising: laying out the first output paper size for a plurality of pages on the paper of the second output paper size based on the output paper size. 21. The method according to claim 21, wherein the layout step includes the step of:
21. The print processing method according to claim 20, further comprising a step of adding a frame line to the front and back surfaces of the sheet of the output sheet size. 22. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or the functions of the information processing system according to claim 16. . 23. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the print processing method according to claim 17. 24. An inputting step of inputting an arbitrary first output paper size included in a predetermined second output paper size as a processing step for performing a printing process, and for one page of the second output paper size. , The first
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a layout step of laying out a plurality of pages of an output paper size. 25. A processing step for controlling a printing operation in a printer capable of performing double-sided printing, a first inputting step of inputting an arbitrary first output paper size, and a second inputting step including the first output paper size. A second input step of inputting an output paper size; and, based on the first output paper size and the second output paper size, setting the first output paper size to a plurality of pages with respect to the second output paper size. And a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a layout step for performing layout by the number of minutes.