JP2003256160A - Information processing device, printing control method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing device, a printing control method, a program, and a recording medium, capable of easily performing a form setup in banner printing. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing device performs a setup for banner printing, displays a screen 900 for having a user input the kind of recording material that is the object of the banner printing, and, if the kind of the recording material set as the object of the banner printing is inputted in the list combo box 901, generates a printing job including a setting information to direct so as to perform the banner printing on the kind of recording material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device, a print control method, a program and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image processing apparatus for performing banner printing in which one sheet of paper in which information (printer name, printing time, printed matter name, etc.) is inserted at the head of an ordinary printed matter.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2932989 discloses a printer system capable of designating a paper feed stage independent of normal printing for banner printing. Accordingly, it is possible to feed different sheets for actual printing and banner printing.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the user needs to set the paper feed stage after accurately grasping which paper type is fed to which paper feed stage of the device. there were. This is something that cannot be operated intuitively, and it is easy to cause erroneous operations.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. The purpose of the present invention is to easily set paper by inputting a paper type for banner printing. An object is to provide an information processing device, a print control method, a program, and a storage medium.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that functions as a host computer that performs settings for banner printing. A print job for generating a print job including input means for inputting the type of recording material to be subjected to banner printing, and setting information for instructing banner printing for the recording material of the type input by the input means. And a generating unit.

The print setting screen includes an item for allowing the user to input the placement position of the recording material targeted for banner printing, and the input means includes the type and placement of the recording material targeted for banner printing. The feature is that either the location or the location can be selectively input.

It is characterized in that the print job includes a set of a recording material for banner printing and a set of recording contents thereof, and a set of a recording material for normal printing and a set of recording contents thereof. To do.

It is characterized by further comprising setting means for setting the correspondence between the placement position of the recording material and its type.

In order to achieve the above object, the method according to the present invention is a print control method in an information processing apparatus which functions as a host computer for setting for banner printing, wherein banner printing is performed via a print setting screen. And a print job generating step of generating a print job including setting information for inputting the type of recording material to be processed, and setting information instructing to perform banner printing on the recording material of the type input in the input step. And are included.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention is a print control program for performing settings for banner printing, and is a subject of banner printing via a print setting screen on a computer. An input step of inputting the type of recording material; a print job generating step of generating a print job including setting information instructing to perform banner printing on the recording material of the type input in the input step;
Is executed.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a print control program for performing settings for banner printing. A print job for generating a print job including an input step of inputting the type of recording material to be subjected to banner printing, and setting information instructing to perform banner printing on the recording material of the type input in the input step. It is characterized in that a program for executing the generation step and the program are stored.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the relative arrangement of the constituent elements, the display screen, and the like described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them unless otherwise specified.

(One Embodiment) A system configuration including a personal computer and a printer, which is a preferred embodiment as an information processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of the printer control system according to this embodiment. It should be noted that, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, whether the device is a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices, the system is connected and processed through a network such as LAN or WAN. However, the present invention can be applied. In other words, the host computer and printer
It may be directly connected or may be connected via a network.

In FIG. 1, a host computer 100
The system includes a CPU 101 for executing document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 103 or the external memory 111, and the system is provided. The CPU 101 generally controls each device connected to the bus 104. Further, the program ROM of the ROM 103 or the external memory 111 has the CPU 10
The operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) which is the control program of No. 1 is stored, and the font ROM of the ROM 103 or the external memory 111 stores the font data used in the above document processing.
The data ROM 03 or the external memory 111 stores various data used when performing the above document processing and the like. The RAM 102 functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 101.

Keyboard controller (KBC) 105
Controls key input from the keyboard 109 or a pointing device (not shown). CRT controller (C
The RTC) 106 is a CRT display (CRT) 11
Controls the display of 0. A disk controller (DKC) 107 is a hard disk (HD) or floppy (registered trademark) disk that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, printer control command generation programs (hereinafter printer drivers), and the like. The access to the external memory 111 such as (FD) is controlled. The printer controller (PRTC) 108 is connected to the printer 150 via a bidirectional interface (interface) 112 and executes communication control processing with the printer 150.

The CPU 101 is, for example, the RAM 10
The outline font is expanded (rasterized) to the display information RAM set on the screen 2 and the CRT 11
It enables WYSIWYG on 0. Also, CP
The U 101 opens various windows registered based on commands designated by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 110 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user opens a window relating to print settings, and can make printer settings and print processing method settings for the printer driver including selection of print modes.

The printer 150 is controlled by the CPU 151. The printer CPU 151 outputs an image as output information to the printing unit (printer engine) 156 connected to the system bus 154 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 153 or a control program stored in the external memory 160. Output a signal. The program ROM of the ROM 153 stores the control program of the CPU 151 and the like. RO
The font ROM of the M153 stores the font data and the like used when the output information is generated.
The data ROM 53 stores information used on the host computer in the case of a printer having no external memory 160 such as a hard disk.

The CPU 151 can perform communication processing with the host computer via the input unit 155, and can notify the host computer 100 of information in the printer. The RAM 152 is a RAM that functions as a main memory of the CPU 151, a work area, etc., and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an option RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). In addition, R
The AM 152 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the external memory 160 such as the hard disk (HD) or IC card described above is controlled by the memory controller (MC) 157. The external memory 160 is connected as an option and stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like. Further, reference numeral 159 denotes the above-mentioned operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display and the like are arranged.

Further, the above-mentioned external memory 160 is not limited to one, but a plurality of external memories 160 can be provided, and in addition to the built-in font, an option card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages can be connected. It may be configured as follows. Furthermore, NVRA not shown
It is also possible to have M and store the printer mode setting information from the operation panel 159.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration in the host computer. These pieces of software perform typical print processing. The application 201, the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203, and the system spooler 204 exist as files stored in the external memory 111, and when they are executed, they are loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by a module that uses the OS or its modules. It is a program module. In addition, the application 20
1 and the printer driver 203 are connected to the external memory 111.
Can be added to the HD of the external disk 111 via an FD, a CD-ROM (not shown), or a network (not shown). The application 201 stored in the external memory 111 is loaded into the RAM 102 and executed. When printing from the application 201 to the printer 150, the R
Output is performed using a common drawing function (called a GDI function) defined by the OS to the graphic engine 202 (provided by the OS) loaded in the AM 102 and executable.

The graphic engine 202 similarly loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus from the external memory 111 to the RAM 102, and sets the GDI function output from the application 201 in the printer driver 203. And the application 201
The GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function received from is converted into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function, and the DDI function is output to the printer driver 203. The printer driver 203 uses a control command recognizable by the printer based on the DDI function received from the graphic engine 202, such as PDL (Page Desc).
ription Language). The converted printer control command is sent to the interface 11 via the system spooler 204 loaded in the RAM 102 by the OS.
The print data is output to the printer 150 via the 2nd path.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing in detail the processing in the printer driver 203 of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a software configuration for performing banner printing. The banner print setting is performed by the user's hand in advance on the user interface 301 provided by the printer driver 203 before starting the print processing. An example of a method of specifying banner printing on the user interface 301 will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 4
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI (graphical user interface) of a print setting screen displayed on the CRT 110 when designating banner printing. In this example, banner printing is provided in the form of a list combo box 401 provided on the user interface. By selecting "Auto" from the list 402 in the list combo box, the user specifies banner printing, and the printer driver 203 performs banner printing processing based on this setting. The display information for displaying the print setting screen is held inside the printer driver 203.

When the printing process is started by the application 201, the printer driver 203 determines whether the banner printing is set on the user interface 301,
If it is set, in module 302,
Create print data for banner internally. The contents of the print data at this time, that is, the contents to be printed on the banner, that is, the printer name (login name), the printing time, and the document name are created based on the information acquired from the OS using the API or the like.

The generated print data for the banner is merged with the normal print data generated by the module 303 based on the designation from the application, and the module 30
After the command for designating other print settings such as finishing processing and layout designation generated in step 4 is added, the command is output to the system spooler 204 as in the normal printing.

The print data output to the system spooler 204 is transferred to the printer 150 as in normal printing, and the printer 150 outputs banner print and normal print according to these print commands. FIG. 5 shows an example of the output result when the banner is set. Here, 601 is the output result when only banner printing is designated. On the other hand, 602 is an output result when stapling is set and 603 is a layout change (2 pages / sheet).

Next, a method of designating a paper type for banner printing will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when banner printing is designated, that is, "Auto" in the list combo box 401.
If is selected, the user interface as shown at 702 to 704 becomes active, and it becomes possible to select the paper used for the banner. First, the user is prompted to specify the paper selection method. Using the user interface provided by the radio buttons 702 and 703, the user is made to select whether to specify the paper by the paper feed stage (702) or specify the paper by the paper type (703). With this selection, the printer driver is
Switch the user interface displayed at the position.

First, when the radio button 702 is selected, that is, when the paper specification by the paper feed tray is selected, at this time, a list combo box for listing the available paper feed trays is provided at 704. It An example of the list is shown at 705. By selecting a preferable paper feed tray in this list combo box, the user can specify the paper feed tray that is independent of the actual printing for banner printing. This makes it possible to use different papers for the banner and the actual printing by previously feeding different paper types for each paper feed stage. Note that the paper feed stages that can be selected here are separately shown in FIG.
It can be set by the user interface as shown in. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for setting an optional configuration of a device. Based on the settings made in advance in the dialog shown in Fig. 7, the available paper feed trays are determined, and only the available paper feed trays are displayed on the list, so that an appropriate paper feed tray can be selected. You can do it. Furthermore, by using the utility software that has a two-way communication function, it is possible to automatically acquire the information of the optional configuration from the printing device itself and reflect it as the setting. It is possible to select an appropriate paper feed tray.

On the other hand, when the radio button 703 is selected, that is, when the paper designation by the paper type is selected, the printer driver provides the user interface as shown in FIG. Here, a list combo box 901 in which designation by sheet type can be performed is displayed instead of the sheet selection by the sheet feed tray in 704. In this list combo box, the paper types that can be used at that time are listed. An example of the list is shown at 902. By selecting a preferred paper type from this list combo box, the user can select a paper type for banner printing that is independent of the actual printing. The paper types that can be selected here are separately set in the user interface as shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface for setting the paper type for each paper feed stage. Based on the settings given in advance,
An appropriate paper type can be selected by determining the available paper type and displaying only the available paper type on the list. Furthermore, by using utility software that has a two-way communication function, it is possible to automatically obtain information about the paper that is being fed to the printing device from the printing device body and reflect it as settings. This makes it possible to select an appropriate paper type more easily.

It should be noted that regardless of whether the designation of the paper for the banner printing is the designation by the paper feed stage or the designation of the paper type, the designation of the paper for the actual printing is performed by the normal paper separately provided in FIG. This is performed using the user interface (1101, 1102) for designation. This makes it possible to specify different sheets for banner printing and actual printing. In addition, since each user interface is completely independent, the banner print is specified by the paper type, the normal print is specified by the paper feed tray, or the banner print is specified by the paper feed tray, and the normal print is set. It is also possible to use different designation methods for each printing, such as designation by paper type. Of course, it is possible to use the same designation method. The designation made here is temporarily stored internally, and is referenced when the user actually starts printing and the print processing of the printer driver is started, and the created print data and the actual printed matter are displayed. Is reflected.

The flow of processing when the start of printing is actually designated by the user is shown in FIG. 11 and its outline is described below.

When the user designates the start of the printing process, first of all, as in the prior art, the creation of banner print data is started. At this time, information relating to the designation of the paper set by the user interface is added as a command. First, by referring to the setting held inside (S1201), it is determined whether the sheet is designated by the sheet feed tray or the sheet type (S1202). As a result, if it is specified by the paper feed stage, what is the designated paper feed stage is referred to (S1203). Similarly, when the paper type is designated, the CPU further refers to what the designated paper type is (S1204). Based on these pieces of information, the printer driver converts each setting into a designated command corresponding to the printing device (S1205), creates print data for the banner (S1206), and then adds it. On the other hand, with respect to the normal print data, the data is created as usual (S1207). A combined print job of these data is output to the printing device via the spooler of the OS (S1208).

The data structure of the print job created at this time is shown in FIG. The structure of the print job data is hierarchized. The second hierarchy is divided into two, and the print data 1301 for banner printing and the data 130 for normal printing are internally provided.
It is distinguished from 2. The banner print data includes a banner print sheet designation 1303. The normal print data includes print settings such as finishing processing and layout designation, as well as a normal print sheet designation 1304. The paper designations 1303 and 1304 are
It is possible to specify either the paper feed tray or the paper type.

The printing device that receives this print job analyzes the command and uses the paper specified in the banner print data for banner printing and the paper specified in the normal print data for normal printing, respectively. Generates printed matter. At this time, depending on whether the paper source or paper type command is used, if the paper source is specified, the cassette is selected regardless of the paper type, and if the paper type is specified, the paper type is selected. The cassette in which is set is automatically selected, and the paper feeding from the cassette is determined by the printer.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to specify a sheet for banner printing, which is independent of normal printing. In addition, by providing two methods as the designation method, designation by paper feed stage and designation by paper type, it is possible to switch by the user's intention, thereby making it possible to specify by paper type that was not available before. It is intended to improve convenience by making it possible to operate more intuitively.
In addition, by specifying the independent paper for banner printing, you can avoid the problem that precious paper is used for banner printing and reduce costs by applying cheaper recycled paper to banner printing. It is possible.

That is, when performing banner printing, it is necessary to specify the paper used for the banner separately from normal printing.
This makes it easier and more intuitive than the conventional technology, which makes it possible to prevent expensive or precious paper from being used for the banner, and consequently reduce running costs.

(Other Embodiments) Even when the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus including one device (For example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.) may be applied.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer of the system or the apparatus ( Alternatively, by the CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium,
It goes without saying that it will be achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instruction of the program code,
An operating system (OS) running on the computer does some or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0043]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus, a print control method, a program, and a storage medium that can easily set the paper for banner printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a typical print system of a host computer to which a printer is connected.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a print system that enables banner printing.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen when designating banner printing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an output example when a banner print is applied to a normal print job and an output example when the finish process and the layout process are used in combination.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a user interface when a sheet is designated by a sheet feed stage for banner printing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a user interface for setting an optional configuration of a printing device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a user interface in the case of performing paper designation by banner type for banner printing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a user interface for setting a sheet that is being fed to a printing device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a user interface for setting a paper designation for normal printing.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of print job creation in the printer driver.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a data structure of a print job generated in the above processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 host computer 101 CPU 102 RAM 111 External memory 150 printers 201 application 202 graphic engine 203 printer driver 204 System Spooler 301 Printer driver user interface

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus functioning as a host computer for setting for banner printing, comprising input means for inputting the type of recording material to be banner printed via a print setting screen, An information processing apparatus comprising: a print job generating unit that generates a print job including setting information instructing to perform banner printing on a recording material of the type input by the input unit. 2. The print setting screen includes an item for allowing a user to input a placement place of a recording material targeted for banner printing, and the input means includes a type of recording material targeted for banner printing and a type of the recording material targeted for banner printing. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein either the placement location can be selectively input. 3. The print job includes a set of a recording material for banner printing and its recorded contents, and a set of a recording material for normal printing and its recorded contents. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is a device. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting the correspondence between the placement position of the recording material and its type. 5. A print control method in an information processing apparatus which functions as a host computer for setting for banner printing, comprising inputting a type of recording material to be banner printed via a print setting screen. And a print job generating step of generating a print job including setting information instructing banner printing to be performed on the recording material of the type input in the input step. . 6. A print control program for setting for banner printing, comprising an input step of inputting to a computer the type of recording material to be subjected to banner printing via a print setting screen. A program for executing a print job generation step of generating a print job including setting information for instructing banner printing to be performed on a recording material of the type input in the input step. 7. A storage medium storing a print control program for performing settings for banner printing, wherein the type of recording material to be subjected to banner printing is input to a computer via a print setting screen. A program for executing an input step, a print job generating step of generating a print job including setting information instructing to perform banner printing on the recording material of the type input in the input step, and a program for executing the Characteristic storage medium.