JP2003080791A - Printer controller and printer control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allocate header footer information to a printing medium. SOLUTION: There are provided an allocation information input process part 6 for inputting and designating information related to a header footer from a displayed screen, a header footer printing region-setting part 14 for setting header footer printing regions to papers on the basis of allocation information from the allocation information input process part 6, and a header footer information-generating part 16 for generating header footer information to be allocated to the header footer printing regions on the basis of allocation information. When printing data formed by an application without a header footer information-adding function loaded is to be printed, if allocation information of header footer information is designated, a header footer allocation control process part 8 adds the header footer information to printing data and outputs to a printer 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a printer, and more particularly to various output of characters (header or footer) printed at the top or bottom of each page of a document or report printed by the printer. Regarding the realization of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been practiced to add a header or footer (hereinafter collectively referred to as "header / footer information") to a document or report and print it. Many commercially available document creation software have a function to add header / footer information to a printed document. In this case, the printer driver uses the print data with the header / footer information added to the printer as it is. Output to. There is also a printer driver that has the header / footer information addition function. In this case, even if the document creation software itself does not have the header / footer information addition function, the printer driver is created by the document creation software. When outputting the specified print data, it is possible to add the header / footer information specified by the input. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2117
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 40 discloses a printer driver equipped with a header / footer information addition function. By using such a printer driver, header / footer information is added to print data to which header / footer information is not added. Can be added.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the image classification information for identifying the job is printed as the header footer information in accordance with the image output direction of the job. No mention is made of the layout to be assigned to the print area of the footer information. Further, it does not mention at which position on the paper the header / footer print area to which the header / footer information is allocated is set. That is, this conventional example does not provide a layout function.

Further, it is desirable to be able to add information effective as a header / footer information to a person who uses the printer. For example, when the printer is shared, it is convenient if the header / footer information can be used as information for identifying which user the printed document belongs to. Further, if the job information is normally printed on the first sheet (separation sheet) of the document as header footer information, waste of the sheet can be reduced.
However, since the image classification information to be printed in the above conventional example is limited to the color information, the user information and the host computer information, it cannot be said that the convenience of the user is sufficiently achieved.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a printer control device capable of allocating header footer information to a print medium.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer control device and a printer control method for adding information effective for a printer user as header footer information.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer control device according to the present invention is a printer control device for controlling output to a printer which is an output destination of print data to be output. In the header footer print area set for the medium on which the print data is printed, based on the layout information input processing means for inputting and specifying the information related to the header footer, and the layout information received by the layout information input processing means. And a header / footer allocation control processing means for allocating header / footer information to be printed.

Further, the allocation information input processing means causes the font information of the header footer information to be input and designated, and the header footer allocation control processing means uses the header information of the input header header information to specify the header footer information. It is characterized by being assigned within the footer print area.

Further, the allocation information input processing means is characterized in that font information can be designated for each header / footer information.

Further, the header / footer allocation control processing means has a header / footer print area setting unit for setting a header / footer print area on a print medium.

Further, the allocation information input processing means allows the margin of the print medium to be input and designated, and the header / footer print area setting unit prints the header footer print area so as not to overlap the input designated margin range. It is characterized by being set in the medium.

Alternatively, when the printer has a stapling function, the layout information input processing means causes the stapling position of the print medium to be input and designated, and the header / footer print area setting section causes the stapling position to be designated. It is characterized in that the header / footer print area is set on the print medium so that it does not overlap with.

Alternatively, the layout information input processing means inputs and specifies a margin on the print medium, and the header / footer print area setting unit sets the header / footer print area so as not to overlap the input / specified margin range. It is characterized in that it is set on the print medium.

Further, the header / footer allocation control processing means, when the printer has a double-sided printing function and single-sided printing is selected for printing the print data, a header / footer printing area is formed on the back surface of the printing medium. It is characterized by having a header / footer print area setting unit for setting.

Further, the header / footer allocation control processing means, when a trouble occurs in allocating the header footer information in the header / footer print area based on the allocation information received by the allocation information input processing means, the header / footer allocation control processing means It is characterized by having a relayout editing unit for automatically editing information or layout information.

Further, the relay layout editing section, when a problem occurs that the entire header footer information to be allocated based on the allocation information received by the allocation information input processing means does not fit in the header footer print area, the header footer information Of the header footer information is automatically edited so that the entire header footer information fits within the header footer print area by reducing the size in the direction that does not fit.

Further, the relayout editing unit reduces the font size of the header / footer information while maintaining the aspect ratio.

Alternatively, the relayout editing section is set so that a plurality of header footer print areas are set to overlap each other, so that the header footer information assigned to each header footer print area can be overlapped and printed. It is characterized in that a part of any header footer information is cut off so that it is not printed.

Alternatively, the relayout editing unit is set so that a plurality of header-footer print areas are set to overlap each other, and when the header-footer information assigned to each header-footer print area can be printed in an overlapped manner, the overlapped It is characterized in that at least one header footer information is line-broken so as not to be printed and is allocated to the header footer print area.

Further, the name of the print data is printed as header / footer information on each medium on which the print data is printed.

Further, each medium on which the print data is printed is characterized in that time information when the output of the print data is started is printed as header footer information.

Further, page information is printed as header / footer information on each medium on which print data is printed.

Further, on each medium on which the print data is printed, color / printing of the print data is performed as header / footer information.
It is characterized in that black-and-white discrimination information is printed.

Further, each medium on which the print data is printed is characterized in that the job identification information of the print data is printed as header footer information.

Further, the header / footer allocation control processing means has a header / footer print area setting unit for setting the header / footer print area on the print medium according to the direction in which the print medium is discharged from the printer. .

Further, the header / footer allocation control processing means has a preview function for displaying the contents allocated to the print medium.

The printer control method according to the present invention is
In the printer control method for controlling the output of the print data to be output to the printer that is the output destination, based on the allocation information input step for inputting and specifying the information related to the header footer, and the allocation information received by the allocation information input step And a header footer allocating step for allocating header footer information to be printed in a header footer print area set for a medium on which print data is printed.

In the allocation information input step, the font information of the header footer information is input and designated, and in the header footer allocation step, the header footer information is designated by the font information of the designated header footer information. It is characterized by being assigned inside.

Further, in the allocation information input step, font information can be designated for each header / footer information.

The header / footer allocation step is
When the printer has a double-sided printing function and single-sided printing is selected for printing print data, a header / footer printing area is set on the back surface of the print medium.

Further, the header / footer allocation step is as follows.
A layout re-editing step of automatically editing the header footer information or the allocation information when a problem occurs when the header footer information is allocated in the header footer print area based on the allocation information received by the allocation information input step Is characterized by.

Further, the relayout editing step includes
When there occurs a problem that the entire header footer information to be allocated based on the allocation information received by the allocation information input step does not fit in the header footer print area, at least the size of the header footer information in the unfit direction is reduced. It is characterized in that the entire header / footer information is automatically edited so as to fit within the header / footer print area.

Further, the name of the print data is printed as header / footer information on each medium on which the print data is printed.

Further, each medium on which the print data is printed is characterized in that the time information when the output of the print data is started is printed as header footer information.

Further, page information is printed as header / footer information on each medium on which print data is printed.

Further, each medium on which the print data is printed is characterized in that the job identification information of the print data is printed as header footer information.

The step of allocating the header footer is as follows.
The header footer print area is set on the print medium according to the direction in which the print medium is discharged from the printer.

Further, it is characterized by further comprising a preview step for displaying the contents assigned to the print medium by the header / footer assigning step.

[0039]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printer control device according to the present invention. The printer control device 2 includes a print data receiving unit 4, an allocation information input processing unit 6, a header / footer allocation control processing unit 8 and a print data output unit 10.

The print data receiving unit 4 receives print data to be printed from an application. The allocation information input processing unit 6 inputs and specifies information regarding the header footer from a predetermined setting screen. The header / footer allocation control processing unit 8 sets a header / footer print area on a medium on which print data is printed based on the allocation information received by the allocation information input processing unit 6, that is, the paper loaded in the printer 12. Then, the header footer information is allocated in the header footer print area. Print data output unit 10
Outputs to the printer 12 the print data created by the application to which the header / footer allocation control processing unit 8 has allocated the header / footer information. Further, the header / footer allocation control processing unit 8 includes a header / footer printing area setting unit 14 that sets a header / footer printing area on a sheet, and a header / footer information generation unit 16 that generates header footer information and allocates it to the header / footer printing area. include.

The printer control device 2 uses Windows
The printing function of the printer control device 2 mounted on the (R) mounted personal computer is realized by the operating system and the printer driver corresponding to the printer that is the output destination. The header / footer information allocation processing function described in each embodiment is incorporated in the printer driver. In the present embodiment, the header / footer information addition function incorporated in the application such as the document creation software does not incorporate the header / footer information into the print data, but rather the header created by the printer driver for the print data created by the application. It is intended to add footer information. That is, the header / footer information addition function incorporated in the document creation software or the like incorporates the header / footer information into the print data forming each page, whereas the present embodiment does not include the print data ( The print data is generated by adding the header / footer information created separately from the document data). In other words, it can be said that the header / footer information is separately allocated to the paper on which the print data is printed, regardless of the content of the print data. As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the header / footer information can be added when the print data is output, a wide variety of document data created by an application that does not have the header / footer information addition function can be added. Header footer information can be added.

Next, the processing for adding header / footer information to print data according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The printer control device 2 allows the user to create a document with an application such as document creation software which does not have a header / footer information addition function, and selects the print function from a pull-down menu or button to print it. Is started by. In step 101, when the printer control device 2 is activated, the allocation information input processing unit 6 displays a header / footer print screen for setting information on the header / footer as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Alternatively, the main screen for printing (not shown) may be first displayed upon activation, and the header / footer print screen may be called from the main screen for printing when the user wants to add header / footer information.

The header / footer print screen illustrated in FIG. 3 is provided with an area 22 for displaying a list of print items that can be set as header / footer information. From the list, the print items to be displayed as a header or footer can be selected. select. Specifically, the “no” displayed in association with each print item is changed to “yes”. And
The display position of the print item set to “Yes” is selected from the position designation area 24. It should be noted that it is possible to easily recognize the setting target by highlighting the print item to be set. In the example of FIG. 3, the display position of the "login user name" set to "Yes" is set to "upper left". The selected print item becomes header information when the upper side is selected in the position designation area 24, and footer information when the lower side is selected. The header / footer information is composed of one or a plurality of print items in which the same position is designated.

In the setting change area 26, font information (font name, size), character decoration, color, etc. are set commonly for all print items. Although all print items are common here for convenience, the print items may be set individually.

When the user sets information (allocation information) for allocating header footer information from the header / footer print screen, the header / footer allocation control processing unit 8 causes the allocation information input processing unit 6 to accept the information via the header / footer print screen. Receive allocation information.

In step 102, subsequently, when the user sets the allocation information and then issues a print instruction, the header / footer allocation control processing section 8 causes the print target to be printed according to the print instruction sent via the application. Then, the print data is received and the following allocation processing is performed. Note that the paper size used in the following description, double-sided / single-sided printing, Nu for printing multiple pages collectively on one sheet of paper
It is assumed that the setting information such as p is separately set by the user from a printer setting screen or the like (not shown).

First, of the print data, one page of document data that has not been printed out is received from the application to generate one page of print data (step 1).
03). If the header / footer printing is not set (S104), the page is output to the printer 12 via the print data output unit 10. On the other hand, when the header / footer print is set, the paper size included in the print data received from the application is acquired (step 105), and the header / footer print area setting unit 14 sets the paper size based on the acquired paper size. A header / footer print area is set on the top (step 106).
Here, the setting of the header / footer print area will be described in detail.

For example, assume that the header is assigned to the upper left of the paper. At this time, the header footer print area for this header is arranged at the upper left of the paper. The header / footer print area is represented by a rectangle. The actual printable area on the paper depends on the specifications and printing capabilities of each printer, so set the header footer print area so that the upper left corner of the rectangle exactly matches the upper left corner of the printable area on the paper. . The size of the header / footer print area is variable. Therefore, the corners other than the upper left corner of the header footer print area are set within the printable area on the paper according to the size of the header footer information. When the header is assigned to the upper right corner of the paper, the header footer print area is set so that the upper right corner, not the upper left corner, exactly matches the upper right corner of the printable area on the paper. The same applies to the footer. If the header is allocated on the center of the paper, the header footer print area is set so that the midpoint of the upper side of the rectangle exactly matches the midpoint of the upper side of the printable area on the paper. Similarly, when the header is allocated to the lower center of the paper, the header footer print area is set so that the midpoint of the lower side of the rectangle exactly matches the midpoint of the lower side of the printable area on the paper. Since the information necessary for the above setting, that is, the paper size and the printable area on the paper, can be acquired in advance, the header / footer print area setting unit 14 can automatically set the header / footer print area according to the paper size. .

Next, the header / footer information generation unit 16 generates header / footer information based on the allocation information from the allocation information input processing unit 6 (step 107), and adds the header / footer information to the print data generated from the document data. By adding the print data, one page of print data is generated (step 108).

By repeating the above processing until the final page of the document, the print data of the document is generated (step 109). In this way, the print data to which the header / footer information is added is output to the printer.

According to the present embodiment, header footer information can be added to document data created by an application that does not have the header / footer information adding function as described above. For example, if the user specifies the font information of the header footer information, the header footer information can be allocated in the header footer print area by the font information. In addition, in the screen illustrated in FIG.
Although the font information is set common to all print items, it may be set for each header / footer information or print item.

Further, as described above, since each header footer information is allocated with the size specified in the allocation information, the size of the header footer information is automatically scaled up or down against the user's intention, or Nup or the like. The size can be output as instructed without being changed by being affected by other setting contents and setting values.

Embodiment 2. The present embodiment is characterized in that the binding margin can be designated from the binding margin designation screen illustrated in FIG. 4, and the header / footer print area is set on the paper in consideration of the designated binding margin range. There is. The device configuration and the processing flow in this embodiment are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, but the processing in step 106 in FIG. 2 is different. That is, the header / footer print area setting unit 14 in the present embodiment sets the header / footer print area on the paper so as not to overlap the binding margin range when the binding margin is specified on the binding margin designation screen. FIG. 5 shows a conceptual diagram when the header / footer print area is set on the sheet having the binding margin on the left side in the present embodiment. In the above-described first embodiment, assuming that the header is allocated to the upper left of the paper, the upper left corner of the header footer print area for this header is aligned with the upper left of the printable area depending on the printing capability of the printer body. However, in the present embodiment,
The margin 28 will be aligned with the point 28 that has entered inside.

In the above description, the example in which the binding margin is specified on the left side is shown. However, even when the binding margin is specified on the right side or the upper and lower sides, one of the corners of the rectangular header footer printing area is similarly. Align the point that has entered the inside by the margin width according to the specified position of the margin.

According to the present embodiment, the header-footer print area is set on the paper in consideration of the binding margin width, so that the header-footer information does not become invisible even when the paper is bound.

In recent years, there are printers that bind sheets by stapling and discharge them. The printer driver corresponding to the printer with the stapling function displays a staple designation screen (not shown) for designating the position and the number of staples (1 position on the upper left, 2 positions on the left side, etc.) by the allocation information input processing unit 8, and the user To input.
As a result, similar to the case of the binding margin described above, by setting the header footer print area on the paper so that it does not overlap the input designated staple position, the header footer information becomes invisible even when stapled. , It does not become difficult to see.

Third Embodiment FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a margin designation screen provided by the allocation information input processing unit 6,
In the present embodiment, the margin can be designated from the margin designation screen. Incidentally. The device configuration and processing flow in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, in step 106 of FIG. 2, the header / footer print area setting unit 14 according to the present embodiment sets the header / footer print area on the paper so as not to overlap the blank area when a blank space is designated from the blank designation screen. Set. FIG. 7 shows a conceptual diagram when a header footer print area is set on a sheet having margins on the left side and the upper side in the present embodiment.
The basic idea when setting the header-footer print area on the paper is the same as that in the second embodiment, and the header-footer print area is set on the paper so that it does not overlap the margin range designated by input.

According to the present embodiment, the header footer print area is set on the paper in consideration of the margin width, so that it is possible to prevent the header footer information from being applied in the margin.

The margin designation screen provided in the present embodiment and the margin designation screen provided in the second embodiment are provided on the header / footer print screen shown in FIG. 3 or a printing main screen not shown. It is displayed by operating the button.

Fourth Embodiment The header / footer information addition function in the present invention sets a header / footer print area on a sheet regardless of the print range of print data on the sheet, and allocates the header / footer information in the area. Therefore, depending on the print range of the print data, the print data and the header / footer information may overlap and be printed. Therefore, the present embodiment is characterized in that when the printer has a double-sided printing function and the user selects single-sided printing, a header / footer printing area is set on the back surface of the paper. In other words, the header / footer information is assigned to the back side of the paper, so that the print result is not affected at all. The device configuration and processing flow in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, in step 106 of FIG. 2, the header / footer print area setting unit 14 in the present embodiment sets the header / footer print area on the back surface of the paper when the user selects single-sided printing.

It should be noted that the function of allocating to the back surface of the paper described in the present embodiment may be automatically exerted, or may be exerted when the user selects a function from a designation screen (not shown). You may

Embodiment 5. In each of the above-described embodiments, the header / footer information to be added to the print data is generated based on the allocation information input and designated by the user, and is simply allocated to the header / footer print area. However, depending on the quantity of the header footer information to be allocated and the font size, the header footer information may not fit in the header footer print area. Therefore, the present embodiment is characterized in that an adjusting function for such a case is provided.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the printer control device according to the present embodiment. The present embodiment has a configuration in which a relayout editing unit 18 for automatically editing header footer information or allocation information is added inside the header footer allocation control processing unit 8 shown in the first embodiment. The header / footer information addition processing to the print data according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 9, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG.

As is clear from FIG. 9, when the user inputs and specifies the allocation information related to the header footer information, the header / footer allocation control processing unit 8 adds the header to the print data (document data) based on the allocation information. Footer information is generated (steps 101 to 107). Here, as a result of comparing the size of the generated header footer information with the maximum range of the header footer print area, when it is determined that the header footer information does not fit in the header footer print area set on the paper (step 110), the relayout is performed. Editorial department 18
Thus, the following relayout processing is executed (step 111). FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of the header / footer information relayout editing processing performed in the present embodiment.

The header-footer print area can be expanded to a size that matches the printable area of the paper if the binding margins and margins are not specified. However, the header-footer print area can be expanded in accordance with the setting contents of the specified layout information. Even if the header / footer print area is expanded to the maximum extent due to the small paper size when allocating the information, FIG.
As shown in (a), the header footer information may not fit in the header footer print area 30.

Therefore, the relayout editing unit 18 in the present embodiment automatically edits the header footer information so that the entire header footer information fits within the header footer print area by reducing the size of the header footer information at least in the direction in which it does not fit. It is characterized by that. FIG. 10A shows an example in which the header footer information “header footer example” does not fit in the header footer print area 30 in both vertical and horizontal directions. In such a case, it is specified in the allocation information. The header footer information is reduced in both the vertical and horizontal directions until it fits in the header footer print area 30, instead of being assigned according to the font size. In this way, the header / footer information can be printed on the paper 32 without applying it.
The processing other than step 111 is the same as that of the first embodiment.
Since it is the same as, the description will be omitted.

According to the present embodiment, the entire header / footer information is allocated within the header / footer print area 30 by giving priority to printing the entire header / footer information over the font size specified in the allocation information. You can

In the above example, since both the vertical and horizontal directions do not fit within the header footer print area 30, both sides are reduced by the automatic editing function, but it is not always necessary to reduce both directions. Instead, the size may be reduced at least in a direction in which the size does not fit. In this case, a square character will be printed vertically long or wide.

Sixth Embodiment In the fifth embodiment, the entire header / footer information is allocated in the header / footer print area 30 by reducing the size in a direction that does not fit at least. However, in the present embodiment, the font size of the header / footer information is changed vertically and horizontally. The feature is that the ratio is reduced while maintaining the ratio.

FIG. 11 shows a conceptual diagram of the re-layout editing of the header / footer information performed in this embodiment. Figure 11
As illustrated in (a), when the header footer information in the header footer print area 30 has a margin in the vertical direction but does not fit in the horizontal direction, the relayout editing unit 18 according to the present embodiment uses the header The header footer information is reduced in size while maintaining the aspect ratio of the font size of the header footer information so that the entire footer information fits within the header footer print area 30.

By thus maintaining the aspect ratio of each character, the character image can be maintained. The device configuration and the process flow in this embodiment are the same as those in the fifth embodiment except for the process of the relayout editing unit 18 described above, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

Seventh Embodiment In contrast to the fifth and sixth embodiments, which have the automatic relayout editing function when a problem occurs that the entire header / footer information does not fit in the header / footer print area, the present embodiment and the later-described eighth embodiment are described. Is an automatic relayout editing function when a problem occurs in which header / footer information is printed in an overlapping manner.

As is clear from the example of the header / footer print screen shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of positions can be designated from the left, center, and right as the header (or footer). In the present embodiment, the header footer print area is set for the paper regardless of the position of the other header footer print areas, and the header footer print area is variable depending on the number of header footer information. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the header footer print area 30 for the upper left header
There is a possibility that "a" and the header footer print area 30b for the upper right header may overlap and be set. As a result, there is a possibility that the header / footer information will be overlapped and printed.

In this way, when the header / footer information is printed in an overlapping manner, the relayout editing unit 18 in the present embodiment can print any of the header / footer print areas (shown in FIG. 12B). In the example, the header / footer print area 30a) is cut so as not to overlap the other.
At this time, a part of the header / footer information assigned to the deleted area portion is truncated in the present embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, in order to prioritize that the specified header / footer information is printed as it is, it is possible to print the specified header / footer information without overlapping. By performing layout editing processing, header footer information can be allocated to the header footer print area. Further, since the image is not reduced, the image of the font size assigned by the user can be printed as it is. The device configuration and processing flow in this embodiment are the same as those in the fifth embodiment except for the processing of the relayout editing unit 18 described above, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

Eighth Embodiment In the case where the header footer information is printed in accordance with the specified header footer information and allocation information, in the case where the header footer information is printed in an overlapping manner, in the above-described seventh embodiment, the overlapping is performed in order to prevent overlapping printing. I tried to cut off one of the parts. The present embodiment is characterized in that the header footer information of one of the overlapping parts is line-feeded and allocated to the header footer print area.

FIG. 13 shows a conceptual diagram of the header / footer information relayout editing processing performed in the present embodiment. When the header / footer information is printed in an overlapping manner, the relayout editing unit 18 according to the present embodiment.
Expands one of the header footer print areas (the header footer print area 30a in the example shown in FIG. 13B) so that it does not overlap with the other, and then the overlapping portion of the header footer information is broken. Header footer print area 3
It is assigned to the extension part of 0a.

According to the present embodiment, in order to prioritize that the specified header / footer information is printed as it is, it is possible to print the header / footer information without overlapping. By performing the relayout editing process, the header footer information can be allocated to the header footer print area. Further, since the image is not reduced, the image of the font size assigned by the user can be printed as it is. The device configuration and processing flow in this embodiment are the same as those in the fifth embodiment except for the processing of the relayout editing unit 18 described above, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

The relayout editing function described in the fifth to eighth embodiments may be provided with a function selection screen so that the user can select one of them. Also,
It is not necessary to set any one, and the priority may be set.

Ninth Embodiment In this embodiment, the data printed on the paper as the header footer information is shown in FIG.
An example of printing the header / footer information on the paper shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

Printer control device 2 according to the present embodiment
Can select an item to be printed from the print items displayed on the header / footer print screen shown in FIG. 3 and print it as header / footer information. Here, if the document name is selected as the name of the data, the document name is printed as the header footer information on each sheet as shown in FIG. 14A. In addition to making it easier to distinguish between, it becomes easier to manage the output document. The path name may also be printed.

If time information such as date and time is selected from the print items displayed on the header / footer print screen, each sheet of the document has header / footer information as header / footer information, as shown in FIG. 14B. Since the time when the output is started is printed, the time information makes it easy to distinguish the paper accumulated in the discharge tray of the printer from others. It also makes it easier to distinguish between multiple documents that you output yourself.

If a page number is selected from the print items displayed on the header / footer print screen, the total number of pages of the document as the header / footer information and the relevant page are displayed on each sheet as shown in FIG. 14C. Since the number of pages of the page is printed, immediately after printing, it is possible to easily determine the start / end of the job or the midway of the job. The page information is not limited to this illustrated format. Also, it is not necessary to print the same information or format on the previous page.

If color / monochrome discrimination is selected from the print items displayed on the header / footer print screen, the document is color-processed as header / footer information on each sheet as shown in FIG. 14D. It is possible to easily determine whether the print result is color-processed or black-processed by referring to the header-footer information because the information whether the print result is color-processed or monochrome-processed is printed. .

If the job ID is selected from the print items displayed on the header / footer print screen, the job ID is printed as the header / footer information on each sheet as shown in FIG. 14E. , It becomes easy to distinguish from other jobs among the paper stored in the discharge tray of the printer. It also makes it easier to distinguish between multiple documents that you output yourself. However, the job ID is not fixed until after the printer control device 2 outputs the print data to the printer 12. Therefore, in order to print the job ID as the header footer information, a method such as inquiring to the printer in advance is adopted, or an instruction command to allocate the job ID as the header footer information in the header footer print area is added to the print data. And job I
The printer may be assigned when D is determined.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, information effective for the printer user can be added as header footer information. The information effective for the printer user is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 14F, billing information and the like associated with printing may be printed.

Further, a so-called fluttering manga can be formed by allocating a slightly different picture as the header footer information in the header footer print area.

[Embodiment 10] Usually, the top and bottom of the paper are determined by the orientation of print data printed on the paper (top and bottom of characters that form a print document). That is, if the orientation of the characters printed on the paper changes, the top and bottom of the paper changes, and therefore, the allocation position of the header footer information and the top and bottom of the characters are also determined by the orientation of the printed document. In the past, the top and bottom were determined by the direction of the print data in this way,
The present embodiment is characterized in that the upper and lower sides are determined according to the direction in which the paper is ejected from the printer.

The apparatus configuration and processing flow in this embodiment are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, but FIG.
The processing in step 106 is different. That is, the print orientation is determined by designating the orientation of portrait or landscape from the print screen or the style setting screen, but the header / footer print area setting unit 14 in the present embodiment is
The header / footer print area is set on the paper with the direction in which the paper is ejected as the top regardless of the printing direction. Then, the header footer information is assigned to the set header footer print area.

FIG. 15 shows an example of printing in this embodiment. In FIG. 15, the printer 12 discharging in the direction of arrow A,
Further, the discharge tray 12a of the printer 12 and the printed paper 32 are shown. This printer 12 is dedicated to single-sided printing, the long side of the paper is parallel to the ejection direction, and the printing surface is the downward side for ejection.

For example, when the printer 12 is specified to print in the horizontal direction (the long side is up and down in the case of A4) and the header is specified as the general upper left, the paper is discharged in the direction as shown in FIG. 15 (a). To be done. Further, the header printed on the paper 32 is shown by a broken line, and the reversed characters indicate that the printed surface is the back side and is invisible. In the present embodiment, since the paper discharge direction is set to be upward, the header footer print area is set in the paper discharge direction as shown in FIG. Header / footer information is assigned to the print area. Then, in this example, the header of the printed document is rotated horizontally while only the header is oriented in the upward direction of the paper in the present embodiment.

By thus allocating the header / footer information, the following effects can be obtained. In the ninth embodiment, it is assumed that the document name is printed as the header. Here, it is assumed that the header is printed at the position shown in FIG. Generally, output tray 1
The structure of 2a is not simple as illustrated in FIG. 15, and guides for preventing sheets from falling are provided on both sides of the discharge tray 12a, and if a sorter function is provided, another discharge tray is provided on the upper side. To be In FIG. 15A, since the header is located in the vicinity of the discharge port, the user can turn over almost the entire paper in order to confirm the document name by looking at the header of the paper accumulated in the discharge tray 12a.
It's not easy because you have to take it out. on the other hand,
As shown in FIG. 15B, in the present embodiment,
You can check it simply by turning the front side of the paper.

According to the present embodiment, the vertical direction, which is the reference for allocating the header / footer information, is determined according to the paper discharge direction, so that the print data is collected in the discharge tray 12a regardless of the print data direction. It is possible to print the header of the existing paper at a position where it is easy to see.

In the above description, the orientation of the character to be printed as the header / footer information is 90 due to the change in the vertical direction.
Although it is rotated once, it may not be necessarily rotated. That is, horizontal writing becomes vertical writing.

Further, in the above description, it is assumed that the header is allocated, but when the user allocates only the footer, it may be ejected from the footer printing position. Alternatively, the footer information may be transferred to the header information and printed instead of being as specified in the allocation information called footer allocation. Alternatively, the designation of "upper left" may be transferred to "upper right" by giving priority to the purpose of printing the header of the sheets of paper accumulated in the discharge tray 12a at a position where it is easier to see than the designation by the allocation information. Good.

In the function described in this embodiment, the print position of the header / footer information may be automatically changed, or may be set from a setting screen (not shown).

Although the print functions provided by the print control device 2 have been described above in each of the embodiments, the respective functions can be specified individually or in combination.

Further, as an additional function, if a preview function for displaying the contents assigned to the paper by the header / footer assignment control processing unit 8 is provided, before the header / footer information assigned in each of the above-described embodiments is printed. You can check.

The print items that can be designated as the header / footer information are not limited to the exemplified items.
The system management may be provided by providing an editing function such as addition, change, or deletion of the print item, or the user may be allowed to update the print item.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the print control device 2 is described as being installed in a personal computer, but it is installed in a device such as a print server provided between the personal computer that issues a print instruction and the printing device. It may be configured.

[0103]

According to the present invention, header footer information can be added to document data created by an application that does not have a header / footer information adding function.

Further, since the header footer information can be allocated according to the font information designated by input, the size of the header footer information does not have to be automatically expanded or reduced against the user's intention.

Since the header footer print area is set on the print medium in consideration of the binding margin width and the binding position by stapling, the header footer information becomes invisible or hard to see even when the print medium is bound. There is nothing to do.

Since the header footer print area is set on the paper in consideration of the width of the margin, it is possible to prevent the header footer information from being applied in the margin.

Further, when the printer has the double-sided printing function and the user selects the single-sided printing, the header footer print area is set on the back surface of the paper, so that the print result is not affected. Header / footer information can be added.

If printing is performed with the allocation information specified, the entire header footer information may not fit within the header footer print area. In such a case, however,
By performing the relayout editing process of reducing at least the size of the header footer information in the direction in which it does not fit, the entire header footer information can be allocated without being placed in the header footer print area.

In particular, since the size of each character forming the header / footer information is reduced while maintaining the aspect ratio, the character image can be maintained.

If a plurality of header / footer print areas are set and the header / footer information is printed in an overlapping manner according to the designated header / footer information and allocation information, one of the header / footer information is printed. Since the overlapping portion of the information is cut off, or the overlapping portion of one of the header / footer information is broken, the overlapping portion can be deleted while maintaining the character size and image.

Further, by printing the name of the print data as the header / footer information, it becomes easy to manage the output document.

Further, since the time information when the output of the print data is started is printed as the header footer information,
The time information makes it easy to distinguish the paper stored in the discharge tray of the printer from others. In addition, it becomes easy to distinguish the plurality of print data output by oneself.

Further, since the page information is printed as the header footer information, it is possible to discriminate the start / end of the job and the fact that it is in the middle of the job by the printed page number.

Further, since the color / monochrome discrimination information of the print data is printed as the header footer information, it is possible to know whether the print data is color-processed or monochrome-processed only by referring to the header-footer information. You can

Further, since the job identification information is printed as the header / footer information, it becomes easy to distinguish from the other jobs among the sheets accumulated in the discharge tray of the printer.
It also makes it easier to distinguish between multiple documents that you output yourself.

Since the vertical direction is determined by the paper discharge direction and the header footer print area is set as the print medium, the information printed on the header in the state of being collected in the discharge tray of the printer is easy to see. be able to.

Further, by providing a preview function, it is possible to confirm the header / footer information assigned to the paper before printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a printer control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of adding header / footer information to print data according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a header / footer print screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a margin specification screen provided by an allocation information input processing unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram when a header / footer print area is set on a sheet for which a binding margin is designated in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a margin designation screen provided by a layout information input processing unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram when a header / footer print area is set on a sheet for which a margin is designated in the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the printer control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of adding header / footer information to print data according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram for explaining header footer information relayout editing processing performed in a fifth embodiment.

[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining header footer information relayout editing processing performed in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram for explaining header footer information relayout editing processing performed in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a relay-layout editing process of header / footer information performed in the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the content of header / footer information printed on a sheet in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of printing on a sheet in the tenth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 printer control device, 4 print data receiving unit, 6 allocation information input processing unit, 8 header / footer allocation control processing unit, 1
0 print data output section, 12 printer, 14 header / footer print area setting section, 16 header / footer information generating section, 18 relayout editing section, 22 list display area, 24 position specification area, 26 setting change area.

Claims (32)

[Claims] 1. A printer control device for controlling output to a printer which is an output destination of print data to be output, by means of an allocation information input processing means for inputting and specifying information on a header footer, and the allocation information input processing means Header footer allocation control processing means for allocating header footer information to be printed in a header footer print area set for a medium on which print data is printed, based on the received allocation information. Printer control device. 2. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the allocation information input processing unit causes the font information of the header footer information to be input and designated, and the header footer allocation control processing unit causes the input header header information to be designated. A printer control device characterized by allocating header footer information in the header footer print area with the font information of. 3. The printer control device according to claim 2, wherein the allocation information input processing means can specify font information for each header / footer information. 4. The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the header / footer allocation control processing means has a header / footer print area setting unit for setting a header / footer print area on a print medium. . 5. The printer control device according to claim 4, wherein the layout information input processing unit causes the margin of the print medium to be input and designated, and the header / footer print area setting unit is within the range of the designated margin. A printer control device characterized in that a header / footer print area is set on a print medium so as not to overlap. 6. The printer control device according to claim 4, wherein the layout information input processing unit allows a staple position of a print medium to be input and designated when the printer has a staple function, and the header / footer print area setting. The printer control device is characterized in that the section sets a header footer print area on a print medium so that the print area does not overlap the input designated staple position. 7. The printer control device according to claim 4, wherein the layout information input processing unit causes a margin on a print medium to be input and designated, and the header / footer print area setting unit sets a margin within a designated margin. A printer control device characterized in that a header / footer print area is set on a print medium so as not to overlap. 8. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the header / footer allocation control processing means, when the printer has a double-sided printing function and single-sided printing is selected for printing print data, A printer control device having a header / footer print area setting unit for setting a header / footer print area on a back surface of a print medium. 9. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the header / footer allocation control processing means allocates the header / footer information in the header / footer print area based on the allocation information received by the allocation information input processing means. A printer control apparatus having a relayout editing unit for automatically editing header footer information or layout information when a problem occurs. 10. The printer control device according to claim 9, wherein the relayout editing unit stores the entire header footer information to be allocated based on the allocation information received by the allocation information input processing unit within a header footer print area. A printer control device characterized by automatically editing so that the entire header / footer information fits within the header-footer print area by reducing at least the size of the header-footer information in the direction in which it does not fit when a problem occurs. 11. The printer control device according to claim 10, wherein the relayout editing unit reduces the font size of the header footer information while maintaining the aspect ratio of the font size. 12. The printer control device according to claim 9, wherein the relayout editing unit sets header footer information allocated to each header footer print area by setting the plurality of header footer print areas to overlap each other. A printer control device, which cuts off a part of any header / footer information so that overlapping printing is not possible. 13. The printer control device according to claim 9, wherein the relayout editing section sets header footer information allocated to each header footer print area by setting the plurality of header footer print areas to overlap each other. A printer controller, wherein when overlapping printing is possible, at least one header footer information is line-feeded and allocated to the header-footer printing area so as not to overlap printing. 14. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the name of the print data is printed as header footer information on each medium on which the print data is printed. 15. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein each medium on which the print data is printed is printed with time information when the output of the print data is started as header footer information. Printer control device. 16. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein page information is printed as header footer information on each medium on which print data is printed. 17. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein each medium on which the print data is printed is printed with color / monochrome discrimination information of the print data as header footer information. apparatus. 18. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein each medium on which print data is printed has job identification information of the print data printed as header footer information. 19. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the header / footer allocation control processing means sets a header / footer print area on the print medium according to a direction in which the print medium is discharged from the printer. A printer control device having an area setting unit. 20. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the header / footer allocation control processing means has a preview function for displaying the contents allocated to a print medium. . 21. In a printer control method for controlling output to a printer which is an output destination of print data to be output, an allocation information input step of inputting and specifying information regarding a header footer, and the allocation information input step A printer control method comprising: a header footer allocation step of allocating header footer information to be printed in a header footer print area set for a medium on which print data is printed, based on the allocated information. . 22. The printer control method according to claim 21, wherein the allocation information input step causes the font information of the header footer information to be input and designated, and the header footer allocation step includes the font information of the header footer information designated to be input. A printer control method characterized by allocating header footer information in the header footer print area. 23. The printer control method according to claim 22, wherein in the allocation information input step, font information can be designated for each header / footer information. 24. The printer control method according to claim 21, wherein in the header / footer allocation step, when the printer has a double-sided printing function and one-sided printing is selected for printing print data, a print medium is selected. A printer control method characterized by setting a header footer print area on the back surface of the printer. 25. The printer control method according to claim 21, wherein the header / footer allocating step has a problem in allocating the header / footer information in a header / footer print area based on the allocation information received in the allocation information input step. A printer control method comprising a relayout editing step of automatically editing header / footer information or layout information when an error occurs. 26. The printer control method according to claim 25, wherein, in the relayout editing step, the entire header / footer information to be allocated based on the allocation information received by the allocation information input step does not fit within the header / footer print area. When such a problem occurs, the printer control method is characterized in that the header footer information is automatically edited so that the entire header footer information fits within the header footer print area by reducing the size of the header footer information in the direction in which it does not fit. 27. The printer control method according to claim 21, wherein the name of the print data is printed as header footer information on each medium on which the print data is printed. 28. The printer control method according to claim 21, wherein each medium on which the print data is printed is printed with time information as output of the print data as header footer information. Printer control method. 29. The printer control method according to claim 21, wherein page information is printed as header footer information on each medium on which print data is printed. 30. The printer control method according to claim 21, wherein the job identification information of the print data is printed as header footer information on each medium on which the print data is printed. 31. The printer control method according to claim 21, wherein the header-footer allocating step sets a header-footer print area on the print medium according to a direction in which the print medium is discharged from the printer. Printer control method. 32. The printer control method according to claim 21, further comprising a preview step of displaying the contents assigned to the print medium by the header / footer assigning step.